Cape Verde & Japan: A Partnership to Industrialize Fishing
Cape Verde is looking to transform its fishing industry from a traditional trade into a modern industrial powerhouse through a deepened partnership with Japan. The initiative aims to move beyond simple fishing licenses toward a strategic alliance involving technology, infrastructure, and private investment.
Building an Industrial Future
Jorge Santos, Cape Verde’s Minister of the Sea, voiced this ambition on the island of São Vicente following a significant donation of equipment from the Japanese government. “We want to have Japan as a partner for the industrialization of fishing in Cape Verde,” Santos stated, noting that the sector already possesses the necessary science and market scale to expand.
Rather than simply allowing foreign vessels to operate in local waters, the Minister emphasized a desire for business-to-business collaboration. The goal is to encourage Japanese entrepreneurs to invest directly in the archipelago, fostering a sustainable “blue economy” that spans beyond fishing into maritime technology and tourism.
Strategic Agreements in Motion
The relationship between the two nations is already rooted in active cooperation. Currently, a bilateral agreement allows 35 Japanese vessels to operate starting 18 miles off the Cape Verdean coast, utilizing up to 42 fishing licenses.
However, the new focus is on supporting local infrastructure and modernization. To that end, Japanese Ambassador Izawa Osamu officially delivered over €2 million worth of essential equipment to support artisanal fishing communities on the islands of São Nicolau, Brava, and Santo Antão. The package includes:
- 100 outboard motors for local boats
- Three industrial ice-making machines
- 50 thermal boxes for fish preservation
- Two refrigerated trucks for transport
- Two seven-meter vessels
Broadening the Partnership
The collaboration is expected to expand even further this week. On Friday, the two countries are set to sign an additional agreement worth €913,000 destined for food assistance programs across the archipelago. Through these combined efforts in industrial investment and humanitarian aid, Cape Verde aims to leverage Japanese expertise to secure long-term economic stability and maritime growth.
Image: Pexels – Mike van Schoonderwalt
