afrol News, 30 June - The prime minister of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, introduced at the weekend a new cabinet with the presence of eight women and a renewed government commitment of accelerating economic growth as a priority.
The Head of Government announced the departure of his Government Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Victor Borges, education and higher education, Filomena Martins, Decentralization, Housing and special planning, Ramiro Azevedo and Justice, Jose Manuel Andrade.
The new government ministers are, Fatima Fialho, minister of Economy, Growth and Competitiveness, Jose Maria Veiga, Minister of Environment, Rural Development and Human Resources, Janira Fonseca Hopffer Almada, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs, Marisa Morais, Minister of Justice and Vera Duarte, minister of education and higher education.
The government reshuffle has been interpreted as developmental and intended to accelerating economic growth and reducing the tax burden for the population.
José Maria Neves has also promised that the new cabinet was aimed at improving safety and public order, saying he was hopeful to reach successful by end of current legislature term.
Neves defended the presence of eight women in the executive, recalling this has been long time ago parity promise to Cape Verdeans. He further stressed his government's commitment to promoting youth participation as well as ensuring high quality of members of the society entering government and taking up decision-making portfolios dedicated to the development of the country.
As priorities for this new government, the prime minister highlighted the growth agenda of the Cape Verdean economy and the increased pace of attracting foreign investment and private sector growth, while also keeping in mind development of human resources for a competitive economy.
Reducing tax burden appears a firm objective of the new government's vision with the aim of ensuring entrepreneural competitiveness and in increasing income to families in Cape Verde.
In conclusion Mr Neves announced that his government will launch new social policies, with a boost of investment in economically weak areas and more support in the sectors of health and education to most vulnerable groups of the country.
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