Praia, Cape Verde, 29 Oct – Italian Non-Governmental Organisation. Cospe, is working on a new project to create a rural tourism network in Cape Verde, Cape Verdean news agency Inforpress reported Monday.

The network, the project for which is due to be presented this month, will be centred on Fogo Island and cover the islands of Santiago, S. Nicolau and Santo Antão in partnership with the protected areas of the Directorate-General for the Environment.

According to a representative of Cospe, which has been working on Fogo island since 1998, in the areas of wine improvement and making use of local products, the project, if it is funded, will be launched at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010.

Paolo Fattori told Inforpress that on Fogo Island the project included development of and adding value to handicrafts with a view to creating a new organised economy, by improving products and diversifying them for the tourist market.

Part of the project is focused on institutions linked to the protected areas, namely the Santa Catarina Municipal Council, and the creation of workshops for production of a quality tourism product. (macauhub)