Tanzania to build East Africa’s largest conference centre in Arusha
The Executive Director of AICC, Christine Mwakatobe, and the Director General of PSSSF, Abdul Razzaq Badru, signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the Mount Kilimanjaro International Conference Centre (MKICC), which will be built in the Kijenge area of Arusha at a cost of sh 385 billion, PHOTO| BERTHA ISMAIL
What you need to know:
- The facility will feature a large auditorium with a capacity of more than 5,000 people, a five-star hotel with 500 rooms, 10 presidential suites, a 20,000-square-metre commercial area, parking for 2,000 vehicles, and a helicopter landing pad.
Arusha. The Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) has signed a partnership agreement with the Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF) to construct the Mount Kilimanjaro International Conference Centre (MKICC), a state-of-the-art facility valued at over Sh385 billion.
Expected to be completed within two years and operational by 2027, MKICC will be the largest conference centre in East and Central Africa.
The agreement was signed on Sunday, by AICC’s executive director, Ms Christine Mwakatobe, and PSSSF’s director general, Mr Abdul Razzaq Badru.
The facility will feature a 5,000-seat auditorium, a five-star hotel with 500 rooms—including 10 presidential suites—a 20,000-square-metre commercial area, parking for 2,000 vehicles and a helicopter landing pad.
A boost for conference tourism
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office [Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities], Mr Ridhiwani Kikwete, underscored the project’s role in advancing Tanzania’s conference tourism industry.
“Many projects of this scale typically rely on foreign partners. However, this faclity will be built through a partnership between Tanzanians, using Tanzanian funds,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to adhere to the timeline and ensure high-quality execution.
“While similar projects may take over four to six years, this one is set to begin this year and be completed by 2027—within just two years. This requires rapid progress, and we must ensure that work is done on time,” he added.
He warned that any delays would result in strict disciplinary and legal action.
The minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, said the project would generate revenue, create jobs and stimulate local businesses.
“Tanzania has immense potential for hosting international conferences, but we currently lack adequate venues. Recently, we had to turn away over 1,500 delegates after exceeding capacity at an event with 5,000 attendees,” he said.
He pointed out that each participant was spending over $100 (approximately Sh250,000) per day, excluding accommodation, underscoring the revenue opportunities lost due to insufficient infrastructure.
Attracting global events
MKICC is already set to host major international events upon completion, including the Apimondia International Bee and Honey Conference.
“We aim for the centre to host at least four to five major conferences annually, bringing in substantial economic benefits,” Mr Kombo said.
Arusha Regional Commissioner, Paul Makonda, reaffirmed the region’s commitment to promoting the MKICC as a premier destination for global conferences.
