Cape Verde & Portugal Launch Major Job Fair for Graduates
PRAIA, Cape Verde – High-level representatives from Cape Verde and Portugal launched a strategic job fair in the capital city today, signaling a new era of cooperation designed to bridge the gap between academic training and the professional labor market.
Connecting Graduates to Industry Leaders
The event, hosted at the University of Cape Verde (Uni-CV), brings together final-year students and major corporations from the construction, transport, and technology sectors. The goal is simple: ensure that the next generation of Cape Verdean professionals has a direct path to internships and full-time employment.
“This fair is designed to inform students about the specific profiles companies are looking for,” said João Queirós, the Portuguese Ambassador to Cape Verde. “The participating companies are committed to investing and growing within Cape Verde, and they need the well-trained workforce that this university produces.”
The initiative is spearheaded by the recently formed Portugal-Cape Verde Business Council (CEP-CV) in partnership with the Portuguese Embassy. It forms part of a broader diplomatic and economic strategy to deepen ties between the two nations through business forums and bilateral meetings.
A “Confidence Boost” for Cape Verdean Youth
For University Rector Astrigilda Silveira, the fair is more than just a networking event—it is a vote of confidence in the country’s youth. She emphasized that cooperation with Portugal has already bolstered academic mobility and research, but the focus is now shifting toward market readiness.
“We want to transform knowledge into development,” Silveira stated. she noted that Uni-CV is actively working to create an employment observatory and new structures to link innovation with applied research. “Our vision is a university more deeply connected to the corporate world, creating real opportunities for our graduates.”
Major Players Seeking Talent
The job fair featured several heavyweights from the Portugal-Cape Verde Business Council, all scouting for local talent to fuel their regional operations. Prominent participants included:
- VisionWare: Specializing in technology and cybersecurity.
- Cimpor & Tecnovia: Leaders in civil construction and building materials.
- ETE Group: A major player in maritime transport and logistics.
- Banco Interatlântico & Caetano: Representing the financial and automotive sectors.
By fostering these direct connections, organizers hope to reduce youth unemployment and ensure that the curriculum offered by Cape Verdean institutions aligns with the evolving needs of the international business community.
Image: Pexels – Khalifa Yahaya
