Kigali gets classy apartments

KIGALI - Kigali has added yet another facility to its growing hospitality and accommodation industry – the Park View Courts, which was officially opened, last Friday, by the Rwanda Development Board CEO, John Gara. The classy facility, that combines apartments and hotel service, is located in the upscale Nyarutarama area. Park View Courts has 24 fully equipped and furnished state of the art apartments with various specifications. Speaking at the ceremony to open the hotel, the proprietor of the over Rwf1bn facility, Denis Karera, said that the he adopted the idea after retiring from active service in the police forces. “After retirement, I was pondering my future and that of my family, that is when I was told that the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) had some funds for people with projects in the tourism sector,” Karera said. “When I approached the bank, I was told that I needed to raise 30 percent of the total cost of the project. Though it wasn’t easy, I did that and the bank gave me 70 percent and then work started.” He said that the hotel was designed by a combined effort of architects from Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda, giving the facility an international touch. Located next to the Kigali Tennis Club, the facility boasts of spacious living areas, a restaurant and bar, as well as shopping outlets. Speaking at the launch, Gara, said that the government is not only committed to supporting foreign investors but also local ones who would want to start up businesses. “This is a great achievement for you (Karera) but it is also something that those of us from RDB as well as other arms of the government, are very proud of,” Gara said. “What you have done is not only a personal achievement, but it is also testament that Rwanda is a very good place, if not the best place to invest.” Emmanuel Karuranga, from BRD said that the bank was committed to supporting such projects that boost the country’s tourism industry through providing loans and any other forms of project support. “We all know that tourism is a key engine of economic growth, so when we help finance such a project, we are not only fuelling economic or sector growth but we are also helping many Rwandans get jobs and incomes,” karuranga said. He called upon other local investors to learn from Karera and take advantage of the government programmes to support local investment. Ends

National

Kigali gets classy apartments