The government of Cabo Verde has held a ceremony to start a Chinese-financed project to give central and local government offices faster internet access, Expresso das Ilhas reports.

The Cabo Verde newspaper says the project should be finished next year.

The report says China is covering the US$5 million cost.

It quotes Cabo Verde Secretary of State for Innovation Pedro Lopes as saying it is important to have internet infrastructure capable of serving the thousands of Cabo Verde people living abroad as well as Cabo Verde itself.

The project entails laying about 16 kilometres of fibre optic cable and installing facilities in urban areas that allow Wi-Fi access without cost in the immediate vicinity, Expresso das Ilhas says.