The Kigali Convention Centre was recently unveiled by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, just in time for an Africa Union Summit that kicked off on July 10.

The facility is among major projects that the Rwandan government has initiated to help boost the country’s tourism industry.

More than $300 million was invested in the Convention Centre, a project owned by Ultimate Concepts Limited, which is a joint venture co-owned by the Rwandan government through the Rwanda Social Security Fund and Prime Holdings as well as private investors, including Crystal Ventures Limited and Rwanda Investment Group.

Work on the Centre started in 2009 and was due to be completed in three years but was delayed due to lack of funds.

Kagame said the completion of the Centre had been motivated by the AU offering to host the summit in Rwanda. “The design of the Centre is truly Rwandan and the implementation is global.”

According to Kagame, the facility was a milestone for conference tourism and the country would now perform better in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions space.

The Centre comprises a conference hall that can host up to 2 600 people as well as other meeting rooms. The Convention Centre also has a 292-room five-star hotel, three restaurants, cafés and bars.

According to the Rwanda Development Board, total revenues based on MICE in 2013 were $49 million and are projected to triple to $150 million next year.