On the 9th of August, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame laid the foundation stone of the country's newest transportation hub, the Bugesera International Airport.

"I am pleased to join you today to break ground for this important national project. We are as determined as you are to see this airport completed and operational," the newly re-elected president said shortly after laying a foundation stone.

With the support of the African Legal Support Facility, the Government of Rwanda successfully signed a Concession Agreement for the construction and operation of the new airport, positioning Kigali to become a nerve centre for business, travel, and shipping in the sub-region.

Estimated to cost US$ 700 million, the Airport project is designed to be executed across four phases. The first phase will involve approximately 27 months of construction--at an estimated cost of US$ 400 million. It is expected to be completed by 2019, at which point the airport will be able to accommodate 1.8 million passengers annually.

For President Kagame, the new airport facility represents a critical element of ongoing national efforts to boost intra-African investment, trade, and travel. "I look forward to celebrating the inauguration of the new airport in the not too distant future," he said.

The development of Bugesera Airport is aligned with Rwanda's Vision 2020--an ambitious strategy which aims to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based, middle-income country by the end of the decade. The project also conforms to the country's Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).