On the windswept island of São Vicente, nestled between volcanic ridges and the turquoise Atlantic, the rhythms of Cesária Évora still drift through the narrow cobblestone streets of Mindelo. Her soulful morna ballads, once sung in backstreet tavernas, echo today through a new kind of stage — gleaming with fiber optics, humming servers, and co-working labs. This is not just the cultural capital of Cape Verde anymore. It is now a budding node in the global digital economy.
With the official opening of the Mindelo Technology Park, Cape Verde has made its boldest move yet to transform itself from an archipelago of sun and song into a digital nomad haven and regional innovation hub. Backed by €45.5 million in funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), this €51.85 million ($58M) initiative is a cornerstone of the country’s digital diversification strategy — and a magnet for startups and tech giants alike.
An Island with a Digital Future
Cape Verde has long leveraged its geographic advantage. Perched in the mid-Atlantic between Africa, Europe, and the Americas, it served as a maritime crossroads for centuries. Now, it hopes to perform a similar role in the digital age. The Mindelo Technology Park, the second of two campuses built under the TechPark CV project (the first is in the capital, Praia), is designed to offer not just state-of-the-art infrastructure but also tax breaks, fast-track visas, and a built-in international ecosystem for tech companies.
In a ceremony held May 6, Cape Verdean Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva framed the project as a pivotal leap for his country’s economic transformation. “We want to position the digital economy as one of the key sectors for diversification,” he said, pointing to goals of increasing its share of GDP from 7% to 25%. “It is a sector that creates quality jobs, stimulates entrepreneurship, and makes the capacity and talent of young people happen.”
So far, the signs are promising: 10 companies from four different countries are already operating in the Mindelo facility, employing 125 young professionals. Eighty percent of the building’s 25 office spaces are now occupied. Tenants range from startups in AI and digital health to regional fintech firms and cybersecurity consultants. The campus also houses a data center, business incubation hub, and training center, with architectural elements designed to be both eco-conscious and storm-resilient.
AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, a strong backer of the TechPark CV project, hailed the campus as a “turning point” in Cape Verde’s economic trajectory. “This is a landmark in its quest to become the digital gateway for Africa,” he said.
Dr. Adesina underscored the stakes: Africa’s digital economy is forecast to contribute $180 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025, rising to $712 billion by 2050. By aligning with this trajectory, he argued, Cape Verde could tap into the $16.5 trillion global digital economy projected by 2028.
Tax Incentives and Free Visas: Luring Tech Talent
A central part of Cape Verde’s tech park strategy lies in its aggressive incentives for digital businesses. The Mindelo campus is designated as a Special Digital Economic Zone, offering tax exemptions to companies in emerging tech sectors. But perhaps more notable is its digital nomad visa program — formally known as the Cabo Verde Remote Working Program — which makes it easy for remote workers to live and work on the island for up to 12 months.
The visa, which costs just €20 (plus an airport fee of €34), requires applicants to prove remote employment or freelance work and a minimum monthly income of €1,500, along with health insurance and accommodation details. In a world increasingly shaped by borderless work, Cape Verde’s offer is competitive and clear: Come for the connectivity, stay for the climate, and build without bureaucracy.
According to recent data, Cape Verde is one of only eight African nations — alongside Kenya, Burundi, and others — to achieve a perfect score for visa-free access and digital accessibility on a recent regional index.
Tech Meets Morabeza
For Carlos Monteiro, President of TechPark CV, the project isn’t just about cables and code. It’s about culture. “The spirit of morabeza lies at the heart of what we’re building — a welcoming environment where innovators from different backgrounds and cultures can collaborate and thrive together,” he said.
Monteiro sees the project as a gateway not just for digital traffic but for West African innovation, linking investors and entrepreneurs from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The broader ambition is to evolve TechPark CV into a pan-African platform for startups developing cross-border solutions — from fintech to emergency services APIs capable of scaling across continents.
Architect Fernando Mauricio Dos Santos envisioned the Mindelo facility as more than just a tech campus. “We created a U-shaped building that protects against harsh northeast winds and maximizes sunlight,” he said. “The design discreetly houses sensitive systems like refrigeration and data centers, while blending into the residential character of the city.” The aim: modern infrastructure without urban intrusion.
In his final remarks at the opening ceremony, Dr. Adesina likened the Mindelo campus to Cape Verde’s most famous export — its music. “Just like out of Mindelo the young voice of Cesária Évora grew until it took the world by storm, so will this technology park rise to become a gateway for innovation.”
Cape Verde is not the first small nation to stake its future on digital transformation, but it may be one of the most strategic. With the tools of the 21st century in place — fast internet, legal clarity, and investor-grade infrastructure — the islands once charted by sailors are now being rediscovered by software developers.
In a world craving decentralized talent and smart regulation, Cape Verde may have found its pitch.
