Concept Formulation to Develop Rwanda’s Capital into East African Air Connectivity Hub Receives MCDF Grant Support

A USD105,000 pre-concept paper support grant to promote the high-quality development of a city to service the new airport currently under construction in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, and build it into an East African air connectivity hub was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 23 June. The pre-concept paper support will be implemented by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The MCDF grant will fund pre-feasibility studies for the New Kigali International Airport City in Bugesera District, around the site of New Kigali International Airport (NKIA), in line with International Financial Institution (IFI) standards and best practices.

The studies will include preliminary technical, economic, financial, and environmental and social feasibility analyses of fundamental infrastructure assets.

The studies will develop the concepts for the transport, energy, and water networks within the New Kigali International Airport City in Bugesera District. These networks will contribute to the realization of five targeted economic clusters – business and commercial, tourism, agriculture, logistics, and residential – to attract private investment, drive NKIA-linked trade and services demand, and enable the new airport’s growth as a regional connectivity hub.

The MCDF grant will lay the groundwork for potential IFI financing for the transport, energy, and water networks in the “airport city.” It will in turn foster greater high-quality connectivity needed for Rwanda and other East African countries to achieve more inclusive and sustainable development.