Government to spend 3bn/- on AICC expansion
2007-12-07 08:32:22
By Adam Ihucha, Arusha
The government will spend about 3bn/- for the expansion of a conference hall of the Arusha International Conference Centre, where the eighth Sullivian Summit will be held.
AICC Managing Director Elishilia Kaaya said yesterday that Simba Hall, one of the meeting rooms of the country`s largest conference centre, would be expanded to accomodate 1,313 delegates. Currently it can accommodate a maximum 1,000 people.
``We will embark in a major refurbishing project for the Simba Hall on 15 December, 2007 and if all goes well as planned, by February 25, 2008, the plenary hall will be opened ready for the eight edition of the Sullivan Summit in June next year,`` Kaaya told a press conference.
``Over the course of one week, the Sullivan Summit will host nearly 3,000 Africa`s diaspora, mostly from America,`` he said, explaining that Simba Plenary hall will accommodate all core delegates such as 30 African heads of state, corporate executives, policy-makers and academicians who will discuss areas of cooperation and planning for infrastructure, investment, tourism and environment across Africa.
Among others, the modernization plan, will see, Simba Plenary Hall, with modern facilities such as audio visuals, modern ceiling, heavy carpet, simultaneous interpretation system, recording facilities, head sets, microphone, power point projectors, fixed seating, writing tables and podium .
``Our long term vision is to make the international community at the end of the day recognize Arusha as a specialized convention city,`` AICC Chief said.
AICC recently refurbished the Simba Hall`s leaking roof at the tune of 240m/-. The roof life span is estimated to be 50 years from now.
``This major face-lift is aimed at making AICC remain top notch conference centre in the country, reflective of the market competition and technologies,`` the AICC chief explained.
He however, challenged entrepreneurs across the country to be ready to reap the benefit of the forthcoming historic event of the Sullivan Summit, a meeting of the world`s political, business, international civil and multinational organizations, and academic leaders.
According to the AICC Director of Conference and marketing, James Mgani the currently car park will be allocated for entrepreneurs to set up their podiums to display their commodities.
AICC, a wholly government-owned entity established in 1978, originally had ten meeting halls, but others have been taken over within the premises of its two main tenants, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and East African Community and its key organs.
Sullivan Summits are organized by a hosting country in partnership with the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, an African American philanthropic organization with the aim of building a bridge between Africa and the diaspora.
Leon Sullivan (1922 - 2001) for whom the foundation is named, was a black boy who grew up during racial segregation and abject poverty in the US.
Sullivan`s parents divorced when he was three. Against all odds he developed a knack for survival.
Sullivan became a baptist minister at the age of 18 and began an illustrious career in the fight against racial inequality and poverty among disadvantaged groups.
Later in the 70s, he became very instrumental in the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
SOURCE: Guardian