Praia, Cape Verde, 22 April – Cape Verdean air carrier TACV is to be privatised in 2009, the Cape Verdean minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Manuel Inocêncio Sousa said in Praia Friday.

According to weekly newspaper, A Semana, the minister made the statement during a “lightning” visit by US sub-secretary of state for Transport, Thomas Bennet.

The first date set for privatisation of Cape Verde’s flag air carrier was the end of 2007, that is one year after US company Sterling Merchant took on the company’s management.

However, the Government opted to give Sterling Merchant more time and decided to postpone the privatisation until 2008, with the Minister now saying that it will happen in mid 2009. (macauhub)