By Frank Kamuntu
Rwanda on Tuesday broke ground for construction of the Kigali Innovation City, a project that promises to foster the nation’s innovation and international investment.
Once complete, the 61-hectare smart city project located at Kigali Special Economic Zone, in the Gasabo district of Kigali, the Rwandan capital, will be worth more than 2 billion U.S. dollars and is expected to position Rwanda as a major producer of next-generation technology, according to officials.
It will feature universities, office spaces, and startup business incubators.
The idea was to create a space to bring together multinational companies and startups in the tech ecosystem, enabling them to co-create solutions and drive the technology agenda for Rwanda, said Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Musoni, at the event at Kigali Special Economic Zone.
The project is spearheaded by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investor.
Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, who officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony, said the innovation city will be more than just physical infrastructure. “It is an ecosystem that will foster innovation, attract talent and international investment,” he said.
RDB Chief Executive Officer Francis Gatare said the project reflects a collective ambition to transform Rwanda so that innovation, education, and technology can truly become a cornerstone for the nation’s future.
“Kigali Innovation City is poised to make a meaningful impact. In fact, at its peak, we expect more than 50,000 jobs to be created right here. With the investments coming into this hub, we anticipate over 150 million U.S. dollars in exports of technology and innovation services, positioning Rwanda as a global competitor in the technology marketplace,” he said.
The innovation city is one of Rwanda’s flagship projects and the cornerstone of the country’s strategy to build a knowledge-based economy, according to Gatare.
Alain Ebobisse, chief executive officer of Africa50, said the project fits in their mandate to help catalyze investments for high-impact projects on the continent. “We want to catalyze private investments in Rwanda, and through this project, we will create jobs and help institutions such as universities to train talent that will develop technologies capable of changing the world,” said Ebobisse.
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