afrol News, 29 June - The Cape Verdean island of Sal can count on yet another residential and hotel complex. Works on the "Vila Pedra de Lume & Golf Resort" start this weekend. The tourist resort represents the biggest investment of the Grupo Stefanina in Cape Verde with a total budget of euro 290 million.

It will be the Prime Minister of Cape Verde himself, José Maria Neves, who tomorrow Saturday will preside the ceremony of laying down the first stone in the construction of the giant tourist project Pedra de Lume Marina & Golf Resort.

The new resort will cover a terrain of approximately 1,200 hectares that are located in the north-eastern zone of the island, close to the Sal international airport. The Cape Verde-based company Grupo Andrea Stefanina, controlled by Italian investors, stands by this major investment.

The resort includes residential areas and several hotels. Some 528 apartments are already put into the market for sale. Their size vary from 68 to 543 square metres and include terraces and access to the complex' common areas and facilities. Additionally, 182 villas of 330 square metres are put on sale.

The construction of this first phase of the project, starting this weekend, is scheduled to be finalised by 2013. When finished, it is foreseen that the complex will have a total of around 2,000 apartments, commercial properties, recreation areas, green lounges and structures to lodge the local population that will work on the complex.

The giant project further includes a central leisure area with restaurants and bars, in addition to a health centre and other infrastructure aimed at international tourists.

According to a press release by the Cape Verde government, both authorities and the investment group trust in that the realisation of this project will have "a positive impact" on the quality of life for the families residing in the Sal village of Pedra de Lume.

Tourism has developed into the major motor of the impressive economic development of the Cape Verde archipelago. The semi-desert and sparsely populated island of Sal has for a long time been the centre of charter tourism in Cape Verde and has for a long time hosted the island nation's only international airport. Praia authorities now however are also developing the tourism infrastructure on other islands, especially on the main island of Santiago.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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