President Paul Kagame Friday afternoon launched Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) an ultra-modern facility located in Kimuhurura, Gasabo District.

The complex that will host the upcoming 27^th African Union Summit that kicks off on July 10 is operated by international hotel chain Radisson Blu, under the brand Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre Kigali.

In his speech, the President thanked the African Union, and specifically, the AU Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, for the opportunity for Rwanda to host the Summit, which he said pressed for the expeditious completion of the project

Zuma was also present at the inauguration of the facility.

The President also attributed the final completion of the facility, that has been under construction since 2009, to the "Rwandan spirit” of never giving up, explaining that the stakeholders tried a number of times to have it completed but had failed.

 "True to the Rwandan spirit, we failed many times but we have succeeded many more times than we have failed. We keep learning from our failures and we finally succeed,” said the President.

In April last year, the government hired a Turkish engineering firm, Summa, to complete construction works, after the completion had dragged for more than four years.

By hiring Summa to complete construction of the project, government terminated a 2009 contract with the Chinese company, Beijing Construction Engineering Group, over unsatisfactory work and delays.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of Infrastructure, James Musoni explained that Kigali Convention Centre is owned by multiple stakeholders, including Crystal Ventures Limited, the Government through Prime Holdings, Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and Rwanda Investment Group (RIG).

Valued at over $300 million (about Rwf223 billion), the centre comprises a five-star hotel with 292 rooms, a conference hall that can host up to 2,500 people, several other meeting rooms, as well as an office park.