Kigali Convention Centre, a plus for Kigali's skylines

Rwanda is gearing up for the African Union summit next month and one special thing with this meeting is the fact that it will be hosted in one of the newest facilities, the Kigali Convention Centre. It will be observed that world over; convention centre design has evolved significantly over the past ten years, impacted by changing economic conditions and the evolving expectations of meeting planners, building operators and convention attendees. The industry remains a vital economic keystone, thus bringing much importance for a quality convention centre in drawing large-scale conferences and ultimately, national attention, to their city. Besides utility, convention centres also exist to impress and serve as national landmarks just like Kigali Convention Centre featured with glass facades, suspended banners and mood lights decorated with unique colour schemes. The facility will certainly be a major cash cow itself, with its capacity to host thousands of delegates in a single meeting room, thereby strengthening Rwanda’s position as the country strives to assert itself – and with success – as the most ideal place to convene meetings of international nature. Apart from economic development, the convention centre also has a great significance in promoting professional and business development, academic and research exchange, technical development and cultural revolution. A substantial portion of the hosted conferences are initiated by thought leaders in our universities, hospitals, research institutes and specialist business sectors, such as engineering, agriculture and food production. A conference centre is extremely important to any country. It is a place that is used for exchanging views and sharing ideas. This speeds up creation of global networks and sparks new business opportunities. The conventional centre also benefits the tourism sector by filling hotels, supporting creation of other similar facilities, creating a greater destination exposure as well as promotion of international trade. It is acknowledged that international business can only be attracted with the right infrastructure in place which enables large-scale conferences, seminars, business meetings and prestigious social events. With businesses becoming more international every year, this makes such a facility not just essential but a must. Being optimistic about the future and looking at Rwanda with respect to the conventions market, the convention centre will receive guests from regional and international markets. Internally, it can be used for discussions or meetings for formulation of policies, national events and other related functions. Meanwhile, as I wrote in my previous article, those who come to the city and Rwanda, at large, get the best treat and flexible services beyond their desires and aspirations. Kigali has become a top-notch city that brings people together, make them feel equally at ease, enable them do business with peace, and unwind when they want to. In terms of entertainment, the City of Kigali has evolved from small pubs to fabulous hangouts fit for local and international stars status. The city has places where people meet in the evening for drinks and delicious bites. The night life in Kigali is a mixture of cocktails, bars, nightclubs and cinemas. These exciting joints basically bring more life and level of interactions that often come with new bondage among all; youth, elderly, locals and foreigners. Kigali’s public transport network goes hand-in-hand with its growth, expansion and improvements. There are modern buses and cabs that offer round-the-clock, cheap and safe means of transport that allow people to move with ease in both their work and personal life. The rare cases of traffic jams are swiftly controlled allowing motorists to have smooth rides all-day long. The new bus station in town is another development that brings glamour; its great design may make one more likely to think of modern electric train stations due to its innovative and stylish architecture. There is also superior infrastructure in all the city’s cosmopolitan areas. It is not in Kigali where you would expect potholed streets and garbage smells anywhere in the capital. Having a relaxed moment and catching up with the trendiest topics online is no big deal. Most of the joints across town have the Internet readily available. Rwanda’s focus on becoming a technological hub has allowed Kigali to have one of the most affordable internet in the region. Indeed, in several ways, Kigali seems to be heading to the bigger league of world capitals. Kigali is proven evidence that there is no miracle recipe to make a city safer, solve insanity, eliminate messes, and increase diversity. There has not been any magical trick to come up with this but hard work from the Government and the people of Rwanda. Undeniably, Kigali is one of the cleanest, greenest, safest and most beautiful cities in the world. This ever-changing face of Kigali will continue to help put Rwanda on the global map. Indeed, the convention centre is another ‘plus’ to the beautiful Land of a Thousand Hills. oscar_kim2000@yahoo.co.uk

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Kigali Convention Centre, a plus for Kigali's skylines