The Government of Cape Verde has created a new body called the Agency for Tourism and Investment in Cape Verde (ATIC), announced the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Démis Lobo Almeida.

Quoted by Cape Verdean newspaper A Semana, Mr Almeida said the new organisation combines the Cape Verde Investments agency with the country’s Directorate General of Tourism. The new body will be responsible for promoting the country and its brands in the areas of investment, tourism and its role as an international centre for business conferences, he added.

The merger aims to reduce for the Government the cost of operating such promotion activities, said Mr Almeida.

ATIC will be based in the city of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, and will have three representative offices on other islands.

Mr Almeida said the measure is part of general restructuring efforts by the Government, which aims to reduce the operating costs of its institutions.

Under the just announced reform, the current regional directorates of the Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Enterprise Development and Cape Verde Investments’ delegation on the Island of São Vicente would be discontinued, said the official.