City master plan unveiled to investors

The Kigali City Council (KCC) has unveiled its master plan to the city investors’ forum to ensure that their investments in line with it. The master plan is a roadmap for the expansion of Kigali city in the next 50 years.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

The Kigali City Council (KCC) has unveiled its master plan to the city investors’ forum to ensure that their investments in line with it. The master plan is a roadmap for the expansion of Kigali city in the next 50 years.

According to Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, the KCC Mayor, the unveiling of the plan is also intended to speed-up the implementation of the city master plan. This was during the Kigali Investors’ Forum (KIF) meeting on Tuesday, at the Prime Holding.

KIF brings together heads of private businesses and parastatals, security organs, development partner institutions, districts and government institutions to discuss challenges and opportunities around the city.

The plan’s presentation highlighted investment opportunities in and around the city. Some of the opportunities include hotels, shopping malls, and recreation centres. Some of the places in Kigali have already been designed for some specific economic activities according to the plan.

For example, the proposed Nakumatt complex and Kigali Convention Centre in Kimihurura, are some of the infrastructures supported by the new plan. Against this background, Kacyira called upon investors to take-up the opportunities and make the dream reality.

"Lets your plans align with the city plans as we also work together in implementing it,” she lamented. The city plan also provides centres for administration, residential areas, technology and other centres.

Faustin Mbundu, the Private Sector Federation (PSF) Vice Chairman, said that it is our responsibility to raise funds and take-up the investment opportunities.

"We should also merge our plans with those the city,” he said.
The conceptual master plan is based on research and analysis of a wide range of background conditions and technical aspects outlined in the existing conditions report.

The report considered environmental, land use, infrastructural, cultural, and socioeconomic factors as well as economic and demographic projections, opportunities and constraints for the urban development.  

The plan also outlines the designs, strategies and actions that will guide Kigali planners and citizens into future more detailed district plans and implementation.

The plan contains renewable five year detailed physical plans that will serve as benchmarks for the city planners depending on the infrastructure and type of activity to be set up.

Since its approval by cabinet, the plan has been unveiled to different stakeholders including the youth and university studies.

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