Rwanda has begun construction on Kigali Innovation City (KIC), a $300 million project aimed at becoming a leading African tech hub.
- The project, supported by Africa50 and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, will create over 50,000 jobs and generate $150 million in technology exports within two years.
- KIC is envisioned as Rwanda’s version of Silicon Valley and is spearheaded by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
- Francis Gatare, RDB’s executive director, calls it a transformative project for Rwanda and Africa.
- Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s ICT minister, highlights KIC’s role in Africa’s digital transformation and its focus on improving infrastructure, policy, and talent.
- The initiative has already attracted top universities, including Carnegie Mellon University Africa, to its ecosystem.