"Let's build up this country, we do not have another" - with this motto the citizens of Cape Verde decided to take their fate into their own hands at the beginning of the 70s. In 1975, they founded their own independent country.

The republic is characterized by manifold influences. It consists of 15 volcanic islands that had served Magellan, Columbus and Darwin as anchoring grounds. Before the islands were discovered by the Portuguese, they had been uninhabited. Four centuries the islands were a Portuguese colony. The blend of colonists and African slaves developed into a unique people with a unique culture. The Portuguese used the strategic position of Cape Verde for their slave trade and later as a military base.

Ever since the beginning of the 19th century, lack of rain has been a problem for the agriculture of the country. Again and again the population suffered droughts and serious famines. Meanwhile they build desalting plants to provide drinking water. Salt and fish are the main natural resources. In the city of Mindelo the fish is processed in small factories and exported as frozen or tinned product. A promising and purposefully expanded industry is tourism.

Nowadays, more Cap Verdeans live abroad than on the islands. The financial support provided by this community is an important economic aspect for the country.