Luanda: The Luanda Convention Centre aims to establish itself as a leading venue for events tourism in Africa and project a modern image of Angola, Public Works, Urbanism and Housing Minister Carlos Alberto dos Santos said on Monday. The minister was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the facility, presided over by Angolan President Joo Louren§o, during which he highlighted the project's potential to promote knowledge exchange, bring people together, attract international events, and stimulate tourism and economic activity.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Carlos dos Santos said that a country's development is not limited to the construction of roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and housing, but also includes the creation of venues capable of hosting major events, exchanges, and business activities. The minister expressed the hope that the Luanda Convention Centre would become a benchmark venue in Africa and a 'window' through which the world can discover a modern, dynamic, welcoming Angola determined to shape its own future.
Among the continent's leading conference venues, he cited the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda, the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Kenya, the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa, the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana, the Sipopo International Conference Centre in Equatorial Guinea, and the Dakar International Conference Centre in Senegal. Carlos dos Santos stated that the real challenge begins with the operational phase of the infrastructure, which should serve as an instrument of economic development, taking advantage of its capacity, flexibility, location, quality of services, and overall user experience.
The State invested 290.8 billion kwanzas in the construction of the Luanda Convention Centre, which has a total floor area of 80,000 square metres. The project faced four major challenges, including balancing public investment in the Convention Centre with private investment linked to the Lundo Project, overcoming the technical complexity of the site, prioritising Angolan companies and professionals, and meeting the construction deadline.
According to the minister, the area where the infrastructure now stands was covered by the sea until November 2023, requiring a land reclamation operation that recovered approximately 943,000 cubic metres of land. Construction also required the installation of 1,400 foundation piles with an average depth of 20 metres to ensure the stability of the structure.
Carlos dos Santos highlighted the participation of Angolan companies and professionals in the execution of the project, which generated 4,500 direct jobs, with a strong involvement of young Angolans. The minister described the development as evidence of the country's technical capacity and acknowledged the contribution of architects, engineers, technicians, and managers involved in the project. He also underlined the cross-sector nature of the undertaking, which involved several government ministries and public institutions.
Regarding accessibility, he highlighted the bridge linking the New Luanda Waterfront to the Convention Centre, measuring approximately 1,000 metres, as well as the direct access road to Luanda Island, which is of a similar length. The inauguration ceremony included the official ribbon-cutting and a guided tour of the Luanda Convention Centre led by the President of the Republic. The event also featured a cultural component, including an exhibition of sculptures and paintings by Angolan artists, which attracted the attention of President Joo Louren§o.
