Cabo Verde Women Entrepreneurs Explore Brazilian Market

A group of women entrepreneurs from Cabo Verde recently traveled to Brazil to explore business opportunities and learn about the market. The trip was made possible by a direct flight between Cabo Verde and Northeast Brazil, which has opened up new opportunities for trade and collaboration between the two countries. The delegation was led by Élida Alves, president of the Associação de Rabidantes da Praia.

The Cabo Verde women entrepreneurs were received by the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) at the Centro de Formação Paulo Freire in Caruaru, Pernambuco. The center is a hub for social and economic development, and the MST has been working with international organizations to promote cooperation and exchange. Maria Luciana de Oliveira, coordinator of the center, expressed her excitement about hosting the African women entrepreneurs.

The Cabo Verde women entrepreneurs visited one of Brazil's main textile production hubs, located between the cities of Caruaru and Santa Cruz do Capibaribe. They were impressed by the variety and quality of the products on offer, and saw opportunities for collaboration and trade. Some of the entrepreneurs had previously worked at the Ponta Belém market in Praia, which was destroyed by a fire in May 2026.

For Zenaida Fernandes, a microentrepreneur from Cabo Verde, the trip was an opportunity to start anew and explore new business opportunities. She was impressed by the beauty and quality of the products in Brazil and saw potential for exporting some of these products to Cabo Verde. The trip was also a chance for her to learn about the Brazilian market and identify potential partners.

The trade relationship between Brazil and Cabo Verde is growing, with Brazil exporting goods worth $45 million to Cabo Verde in 2025. The main products exported were meat, cosmetics, footwear, and clothing. The reactivation of the direct flight between the two countries in May 2026 has opened up new opportunities for trade and collaboration.

The Brazilian entrepreneurs who received the Cabo Verde delegation were enthusiastic about the visit and saw potential for mutually beneficial partnerships. Iara Queiroz, a microentrepreneur from Brazil, expressed her excitement about the possibility of working with the Cabo Verde women entrepreneurs. Conceição Gadelha, gerente de Economia Criativa de Caruaru, also welcomed the visit and saw it as an opportunity for cultural and economic exchange.

The visit by the Cabo Verde women entrepreneurs to Brazil highlights the growing trade and economic ties between the two countries. It also underscores the importance of promoting women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of South-South cooperation. The trip is expected to yield positive results for both countries, with potential for increased trade and collaboration in the future.

Key points

• The trip was made possible by a direct flight between Cabo Verde and Northeast Brazil.
• The Cabo Verde women entrepreneurs visited one of Brazil's main textile production hubs.
• Brazil exported goods worth $45 million to Cabo Verde in 2025.