East African Business Week

KIGALI, RWANDA - Rwanda's bid to build a bigger international airport to handle the rising air traffic is gaining momentum with the detailed technical study expected to be out this month, Rwanda's Infrastructure Minister has said.
This will pave way for consultations with potential developers to mobilize the required US$700 million funding for the construction of the New Bugesera International Airport (NBIA) that is expected to open in 2015.
"Bugesera airport is attracting a good number of potential developers," Minister Albert Nsengiyumva said recently without disclosing names of the investors.
Mr. Nsengiyumva said that once the study is out, the issue would be to negotiate with a contractor who would build and operate the airport or to get an investor who would work with potential operator.
Currently, Rwanda relies on Kigali International Airport (KIA), which is too small and old to serve the country's vision to become a regional commercial hub in East and Central Africa.
Rwanda continues to register an increasing number of visitors, which has attracted regional and international airlines to operate flights to and from Kigali.
International Airlines such as Brussels Airlines, and Netherland's KLM, as well as regional players Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Air Uganda fly to and from Kigali.  This increases pressure on the government to build a new and bigger airport to handle the inbound and outbound air traffic.