Cabo Verde Becomes the Second Country in Africa to Appoint a Tech Ambassador, Signing a Historic Protocol on Membership with the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2026 | Praia, Cabo Verde
The signing ceremony in Praia marks a landmark moment in tech diplomacy, positioning Cabo Verde as the second Lusophone country in the world to institutionalise the role of Tech Ambassador.
PRAIA, Cabo Verde, March 17, 2025 — The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute (TDGI) and the Government of Cabo Verde signed a Protocol on Membership in the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute on Friday, March 13th, formalising a strategic partnership in the field of technology diplomacy. With this signing, Cabo Verde becomes the second country in Africa — and the second Lusophone country in the world — to formally appoint a Tech Ambassador at the highest level of government.
His Excellency Olavo Correia, Vice Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, has been appointed as the country’s Tech Ambassador, a designation that places technology at the heart of the nation’s diplomatic agenda and signals Cabo Verde’s determination to shape, not merely receive, the rules of the global digital order.
The ceremony took place in Praia and was attended by members of the Cabo Verdean government, representatives of the TDGI, and distinguished guests from across the public and private sectors.
A Nation Built for the Digital Age
Cabo Verde has long been recognised across Africa for its institutional stability, strong governance, and consistent development of digital public infrastructure. The country has pursued an ambitious digital strategy, exemplified by TechPark CV — a modern technology park integrating data centres, innovation spaces, and training facilities — which has established Cabo Verde as a digital hub for West Africa.
Its strategic location in the Atlantic, at the convergence of submarine cables connecting Africa, Europe, and Brazil, makes the archipelago a genuine digital crossroads between three continents. This infrastructure, combined with a clear policy vision, provides the foundation that meaningful tech diplomacy demands.
Voices
“This protocol is a statement of intent. Cabo Verde is not waiting to be invited to the global conversation on technology — we are building the capacity, the institutions, and the partnerships to be part of shaping it. The appointment of a Tech Ambassador reflects our commitment to a digital future that serves our people and contributes to the broader African and global agenda.”
— H.E. Olavo Correia, Vice Prime Minister of Cabo Verde and Tech Ambassador
“Cabo Verde exemplifies what it means to lead with intention in the digital era. This is a country that has invested in infrastructure, in people, and in governance — and is now formalising that leadership on the international stage. For the TDGI, this partnership is deeply meaningful: it is proof that tech diplomacy is becoming a reality, country by country, across the Global South.”
— Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder & President, Tech Diplomacy Global Institute
About the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute
The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute (TDGI) is dedicated to transforming technology diplomacy from concept into practice — building the structures, capacities, and alliances that enable countries to navigate the digital age with sovereignty and purpose. On November 1st, through the Samarkand Declaration, the TDGI called on nations to formally recognise the role of Tech Ambassador and to engage actively in shaping global digital governance frameworks.