Rwanda, will in the next two years, have a new Prime Minister’s office complex that is to be constructed with a grant from the Chinese Government.

VIDEO: Groundbreaking: Rwanda Government Complex. Source: YouTube/The New Times

Construction works for the new complex commenced yesterday with ground-breaking ceremony  graced by the chairperson of the National People’s Congress of China who was in the country on a two-day official visit.  

 The complex will cost an estimated $37million (about Rwf28bn) and construction works will be completed within a two-year period, according to the Minister for Infrastructure James Musoni. 

As part of the agreement, Rwanda availed land while the grant by the Chinese government will cover construction expenses.

The building is being put up in Kimihurura, on a 20,000 square plot between the complex housing the ministries of foreign affairs, EAC Affairs and the ministry for trade and industry; and the current office used by the prime minister.

The eight story building, which will have two blocks, will have capacity to accommodate about 1,100 government employees. 

Besides the Office of the Prime Minister, the complex will host eight other government institutions.

Speaking after the ground breaking ceremony, Musoni said the complex was part of the government plans to reduce use of rented space by government institutions.

The government, he said, was still incurring expenses in renting office space for over 1,000 employees. 

However, the government has plans to ensure that no more office space is being rented after the next three years.

Musoni said that the grant was an indication of the warm ties enjoyed between the two countries over the years.