Airports help landlocked Rwanda grow

"Rwanda is a unique country allowing all African passport holders to arrive by air visa-free," Akamanzi says. "Visas are issued on entry, and that has made travel to the country easy."

The airport is now among the best in Africa, she says.

"It has been ranked No 7 in Africa and the best airport in East Africa by Skytrax, a UK-based consultancy firm."

However, as proud as Akamanzi is of the expanded airport, it is not regarded as having the capability of helping the country fulfill its development ambitions, and a new airport is in the pipeline.

That airport, at Bugesera, 40 kilometers from Kigali, will be world-class, Akamanzi says.

"It is expected to provide both extra capacity for passenger transport and will develop cargo freight. Expanding Kigali International Airport was a temporary solution. Bugesera is the permanent solution."

For a long time funding of infrastructure projects has remained a key obstacle for African countries. And they are now trying to diversify funding sources to gain more independence and flexibility.

The Rwanda Development Board says design of the new airport is complete and the government is seeking a private investor to help it build the airport.

"We have received interest in the airport from Chinese companies and have assessed their interest alongside other proposals," Akamanzi says.

China has had a significant role in construction work in Rwanda, and many landmarks in Kigali were built by Chinese companies.

Chinese companies have invested in transport network projects including roads and railways that are being built in a drive toward regional and continental integration, which in turn is aimed at opening up markets.

"Through regional integration, we are investing in strategic infrastructure projects such as the regional railway project from Mombasa in Kenya to Kigali," Akamanzi says.

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