“It is a strategic project, especially in order to support investments in infrastructures that will now be made and are in line, with development aid from the United States, the European Union and the World Bank and Cape Verde wants to bring Chinese companies in on these aid packages,” Morais said in an interview with Macauhub.

The construction of the cement factory could be launched this year, according to Morais, who said all it now required was the official go-ahead from the Chinese government to start the stage of formalizing Chinese credit for the project.

Cape Verde’s ambassador also said that, at a later stage, cement production from the project would be exported to other African markets.

“The intention is not only to supply the domestic market in this growth phase for infrastructures in Cape Verde, but also to export to the West African market keeping in mind our role as a platform for the African continent,” Morais said.

Morais highlighted the fact that Cape Verde was still attracting the interest of several Chinese companies in the fishing sector, for the start of experimental operations in using cold to preserve fish and freezing fish for export.

“There is also interest in naval repairs, making use of infrastructures at Porto Grande, in MIndelo, at Cabnave, companies that are currently being sold off, or privatized, businesses to which we are trying to attract Chinese companies,” Morais said.

Cooperation between China and Cape Verde began in April 1976, when diplomatic relations were established.

Since then, Cape Verde has received support from China in technical and economic areas such as construction of the government and parliament buildings, and the National Library, amongst other projects.

China is currently building the first hydroelectric dam in Cape Verde, on Santiago Island and the two countries are negotiating the construction of other dams, a national stadium to be located on the outskirts of the capital, a ceramics factory on Boavista Island and an industrial fishing unit in Sao Miguel, in Santiago Island’s interior.

In January, during a visit to Praia by Chinese foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, China approved a US$2.4 million loan to Cape Verde to complete the financing of two projects already underway in the health sector – the outpatients department and the maternity unit of Agostinho Neto Hospital, in Praia.

Although Cape Verde exported no goods to China, the country imported Chinese goods to the value of US$1.94 million in the first seven months of 2005.