Cape Verde is now widely regarded as one of the world’s premier investment hotspots due to the following:

* The “European Caribbean” – the closest tropical islands to Europe
* Incredible beaches
* Property prices still very low, with excellent investment opportunities
* Year round sunshine, with no hurricanes
* Low cost of living and affordable holidays
* Just 5.5 hours flight from UK &  from mainland Europe
* Direct flights from the Americas and most European cities
* Huge growth and tourism potential
* Most major hotel chains have either bought a land plot here or are tendering
* Multi-party, stable democratic government is very supportive of Tourism
* Exchange rate value of local currency is fixed to the Euro
* Strong economic position offering excellent returns on investment
* Absence of any ethnic, religious or political conflict
* Government implementation of a series of programs to improve the infrastructure necessary for the development of Cape Verde into a high quality tourist destination.

These programs cover transportation, communications, banking, health provision, electricity, water and sanitation provision and professional training.

Cape Verde "at-a-glance"

Full Name: Republic of Cape Verde
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, Approx 450 km west of Senegal
Composition: 10 islands, 9 inhabited
Time difference: UTC-1
Capital: Praia (Santiago)
Area: 4,033 sq km
Area Comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Coastline: 965 km
Climate: temperate; warm, dry; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land Use: arable land - 11.41%, permanent crops - 0.74%, Other - 87.85% (2005)

Government type: Democratic republic
Population: 423,613 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo
Religion: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of Nazarene)
Legal system: based on the legal system of Portugal
Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Exchange Rate: Pegged directly to the Euro: 1 Euro = 110.265 CVE
GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.129 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.128 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (real growth rate): 5.5%
GDP per capita (PPP): $6,000 (2006 est.)