KIGALI, RWANDA – His Majesty King Mswati III visited the multi billion dollars Kigali Special Economic Zone in his last activity here on Tuesday afternoon.
The King was told that in 10 years the KSEZ has brought about 3.5 billion US dollars, an equivalent of E66.5 billion.
The special economic zone industrial park has created 17 500 jobs and attracted over 250 companies.
His Majesty the King visited one company, Africa Improved Foods which has generated over a billion dollars since it’s inception five years ago.
The company’s products currently reach about 1.6 beneficiaries and has desire to increase to 10 million.
Prior to visiting the KSEZ, His Majesty started at Carnegie Mellon University Africa branch, which is offering engineering, cybersecurity, digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence programs at Masters Degree level.
The University operates more like an innovation centre for African students.
They have produced over 800 students across the continent with 697 working in leading African corporates.
The CMU Africa told the King that they have 19 African countries participating in the program.
They explained to the King that what’s majes them different from the rest in the continent is their strength in research and innovation.
His Majesty the King appreciated the partnership the University has with the Carnegie Mellon University in the United States of America, saying African students can access similar programs here at home.
The King said should look forward go welcome Emaswati to pursue these programs which they could have otherwise got from USA universities.
His Majesty the King said the Kingdom would in the near future look into partnering with CMU since it was tasked by SADC to create a university dedicated to science and technology.
