Brava: Pro Empresa encourages young people to invest in the island with entrepreneurship support programs

Michel Andrade, who was speaking to Inforpress, defended the fact that emigration is a right inherent to people, but explained that public policies have been geared towards strengthening the autonomy of young people, through programs that allow young people to set up their own businesses.

"The right to emigrate is inherent to people and we cannot prevent young people from doing so. However, the government has been creating incentives and lines of support for young people, through Pró Empresa and in partnership with other institutions, so that young people have the autonomy and conditions to develop their own projects," he said.

The head of Pró-Empresa for the Brava and Santa Catarina do Fogo delegations, stressed that the institution has been working with different partners, including banks, to facilitate access to funding, allowing young people to invest in their business ideas.

According to the technician, these partnerships have made the process simpler and more straightforward, ensuring easier access to funding for the creation and development of companies.

The official also highlighted the role of the Employment and Professional Training Institute (IEFP) in training young people in the Fogo/Brava region, considering that the training courses developed have a positive impact.

"In Brava, I believe that there has been some positive impact on the training that the IEFP has been developing in the Fogo/Brava region. The training that is brought to the island must meet the local reality, the needs of the young people and also the existing demand," he said.

Andrade also considered that training activities should be planned taking into account not only the interests of young people, but also the needs of the local market, in order to contribute to the municipality's economic development.

"The potential of the island of Brava is well known, so it's important that vocational training is aligned with the needs of the island, with a view to boosting economic development," he stressed.

Within the scope of policies to encourage young entrepreneurship, Pro Empresa has various support programs, including the "startup" Jovem 100%, aimed at promoting innovative business projects.

The program, promoted by the government of Cape Verde, is aimed at young people and women aged between 18 and 35 and aims to facilitate the creation and development of businesses.

Another instrument highlighted is the Youth and Women's Bank (Banco JM), a platform created to make it easier for young people and women to access funding, making it possible to organize the documentation needed to submit applications in a more practical way.

According to the technician, through this platform there are various lines of funding that can range from around 150,000 escudos to five thousand escudos, depending on the nature of the project.

During his trip to the island, Michel Andrade also revealed that the team made contact with various local institutions and visited some companies that have already benefited from Pro Empresa programs.

"We were in direct contact with some institutions on the Brava and visited companies that have already benefited from some Pro Empresa programs, as well as others that we intend to integrate into the opportunities and offers available," he concluded.

Inforpress/End