Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr Amos Makalla.
BY THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER
Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Amos Makalla, has described the on-going construction of the Mount Kilimanjaro International Convention Centre (MKICC) at Kijenge, in the city, as a major investment in the region’s conference tourism industry.
Visiting the site recently, Mr Makalla assessed the multi-billion-shilling project, which was being developed as a modern venue for large international conferences, exhibitions and other major events and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing progress.
Speaking during the visit, the RC said the project demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening Tanzania’s capacity to host major regional and international gatherings.
He said the centre would help position Arusha as a leading destination for conference, wildlife and sports tourism while creating additional economic opportunities for residents and businesses in the region.
A spot check by The Arusha News team found out that works were in full swing 24/7. Currently, the area has been levelled, ready for for the actual building to start any time from now.
The facility will cost more than Sh368 billion and will include a main auditorium capable of accommodating about 5,000 people at a time. It will also have smaller meeting halls, committee chambers, exhibition areas and other supporting facilities.
Mr Makalla described the project as an important addition to Arusha’s tourism and conference infrastructure, saying it would enable the city to host events that currently cannot be held at the existing Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
Officials from AICC, which is overseeing the project, said the planned facility had already attracted inquiries from organisers interested in holding international events there by 2028.
According to plans announced in March 2025, the centre shall have a five-star hotel with 500 rooms, 10 presidential suites, commercial space, parking lot for about 2,000 vehicles and a helipad.
The project is being implemented through a partnership between the AICC and the Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF). Earlier projections indicated that the centre would become operational in 2027.
Once completed, it would increase the number and size of international events hosted in Arusha, already dubbed the “Geneva of Africa.”
It would generate business for hotels, transport operators, tour companies, restaurants and other service providers.
