ECONOMIC CONFERENCE 2012

Transcription

1 AFRICAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE 2012 Inclusive and Sustainable Development in an Age of Economic Uncertainty October 30th - November 2nd 2012 Kigali-Rwanda LOGISTICS NOTE INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

2 SUGGESTED ARRIVAL DATE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 2012 Participants should plan to arrive in Kigali by the evening of Monday, October 29th and depart either on Friday, November 2nd in the evening after the end of the conference or on Saturday, November 3rd. REGISTRATION All participants are required to register online on: NOT LATER than the 20th October Only if the online registration is received by that time will it be possible for us to prepare for delegates hotel bookings and ground logistics at the conference. Completing the online registration form, with a passport size picture uploaded, is a prerequisite. Registered participants will receive a conference package, including a conference badge, upon arrival, either at the airport or at their designated hotel. Participants who have not registered can do so at the Information Desk at the conference venue, from 9:00 am, on 29 th October, and throughout the conference. For identification and security reasons, all participants are requested to wear their badges during the meeting and at social functions. The loss of a meeting badge should be reported to the Information Desk, so that a new one can be issued immediately. MEETING VENUE The 2012 African Economic Conference will take place at: Kigali Serena Hotel Boulevard de la Révolution, PO Box 7469 Kigali, Rwanda Kigali@serena.co.rw Tel: Website: MEETING LANGUAGES The working languages of the meeting are English and French and simultaneous translation will be available in all sessions. ACCOMMODATION Participants will be lodged at the following Hotels in Kigali: Serena, Mille Collines, Lemigo, Gorilla Golf, and Golden Hills. The cost of accommodation for all sponsored participants will be covered by the organisers. Non-sponsored participants will be requested to guarantee their payment by credit card or cash upon check-in at their hotel. 1

3 Please note that the following room rates are on a single occupancy basis: Kigali Serena Hotel (www,serenahotels.com) Standard Room: US$ 238 Deluxe Room: US$ 250 Superior Room: US$ 270 Junior Suite: US$ 287 Executive Suite: US$ 360. Mille Collines Hotel ( Standard Room: US$ 186 Lemigo Hotel( Standard Room: US$ 130 Gorillas Golf Hotel ( Standard Room: US$ 175 Golden Hills Hotel ( Standard Room: US$ 140 CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT Check-In Check-Out Kigali Serena 2 p.m a.m. Mille Collines Hotel 1 p.m. 11 a.m. Lemigo Hotel 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Gorillas Golf Hotel 12 a.m. 10 a.m. Golden Hills Hotel 11 a.m. 11 a.m. METHOD OF PAYMENT Cash Kigali Serena US$ _ _ RWF Visa Card MasterCard (Credit) American Express Mille Collines Hotel US$ _ RWF Visa Card MasterCard (Credit) Lemigo Hotel US$ _ RWF Visa Card MasterCard (Credit) Gorillas Golf Hotel US$ _ _ RWF Visa Card MasterCard (Credit) Golden Hills Hotel US$ _ RWF Visa Card MasterCard (Credit) BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER The cost of all the rooms in the selected hotels includes breakfast. Throughout the duration of the conference, lunch will be provided at Serena to all participants. The cost of dinner will be covered by individual participants. All participants will be invited to a conference dinner. HOTEL BOOKING Please note that hotel reservations are subject to room availability so early registration is encouraged. Those who are not interested to stay at any of the above hotels and wish to make alternative arrangements should inform the organisers in advance by sending an to Celestin Makuza (celestin.m@theeventsfactory.biz), with copy to Chrys Birasa, UNDP Protocol Assistant (chrys.birasa@undp.org) and Eugene Ruhinguka, UNDP Procurement Analyst (eugene.ruhinguka@ undp.org). The suggested date of arrival is Monday, October 29th, 2012, one day before the beginning of the conference. 2

4 PASSPORT AND VISAS Most conference participants proceeding to Rwanda must obtain an entry visa prior to arrival. You can apply for your visa at your local Rwandan Embassy or by submitting an online Entry Visa Facilitation Form ( singleform.php). We strongly recommend that the online visa application option, which is very easy and straightforward, be used. Your visa response is usually ed to you within 1-3 working days. In filling in the application form, please specify that: The purpose of the visit is the 2012 African Economic Conference; The contact person is Mr. Makuza Celestin, Event Manager, P.O.Box 3397 Kigali, Tel: ; Your address is: Kigali Serena Hotel, P.O.Box 7469 Kigali, Rwanda. Tel: There is a space in the application form provided for uploading an invitation letter as a supporting document. You are encouraged to use the letter of invitation sent to you by UNDP. However this is not a requirement for your visa. Please make sure you print out the response to your application and present it to the airline you are travelling with, if requested to do so. You will need the same document to obtain your visa upon arrival in Kigali. There is a USD fee for visas to be paid in cash upon arrival in Kigali. Nationals of the following countries do not need an entry visa for Rwanda: USA, Germany, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Burundi. Visas are also not required for visitors travelling on a United Nations Laissez-Passer (UNLP) however holders of diplomatic passports and all other passports will need to have a visa. In case you have any issues with your application, please contact the Event Manager. GROUND TRANSPORT Please confirm your arrival time with the EVENT MANAGER (celestin.m@theeventsfactory.biz), with a copy to Chrys Birasa, UNDP Protocol Assistant (chrys.birasa@undp.org) for them to organise for airport pick-up upon your arrival. Daily shuttles will be in place to transport participants to and from the conference venue. Please check the notice boards in your hotel lobby for arrival and departure times of the shuttles. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Security and health The security situation in Rwanda is stable. However, participants are encouraged to always remain vigilant, aware of their surroundings and report security incidents to the Event Manager or any of the security contact persons listed below. It is advisable to avoid crowded and/or isolated areas beyond 6:00 pm. In case of emergency, the toll free number is 112 for National Police in Rwanda. For general health and precautions for Rwanda, please visit In case you need medical consultation, there will be a clinic at the conference site, and an ambulance on standby, 24/7. You are advised to first contact the United Nations physician, Dr. Alpha Diallo, who will be available on call at +250(0)

5 Contacts of hospitals and clinics in Kigali King Faycal Hospital is open 24/7 in Kacyiru behind Umubano Hotel. Phone: Polyclinique du Plateau is in the town center at close proximity from Serena Hotel. It is also open 24/7. Phone: Hopital la Croix du Sud is located in Remera, near Kigali International Airport road. Phone: (0) Other Recommended Specialists Dr Vincent BANYANGIRIKI - Dentist Phone: Dr. Claude - Gynecologist Phone: +250(0) Dr. Francoise RWAKUNDA - Ophthalmologist Phone: +250 (0) Dr. Vincent NSENGIMANA - Cardiologist Phone: +250 (0) ; Secretariat: +250 (0) Telecommunication facilities The conference package that will be made available to all participants will include a SIM card from telecommunications provider MTN. Participants will be responsible for buying their own airtime vouchers. Currency Exchange The local currency is the Rwandan franc (RWF). The National Bank of Rwanda s rate of exchange as of October 12 th, 2012 is 1US$= RWF. You can access for updated currency exchanges from the National Bank of Rwanda s website. Some foreign currencies are exchangeable at authorized banks located in Kigali City and at Kigali International Airport. Please note that there are only a few ATMs in Kigali and most places outside the hotels will only accept cash for payment. Electricity The electricity voltage in Rwanda is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Climate The Conference will be held during the short rainy season. Temperature might average between 20 C (68 F) and 30 C (86 F), while temperatures at night might be cooler. Although Rwanda still gets much sun during the short rains season, please ensure to bring along with you the appropriate attire and an umbrella. Time Rwanda is in the GMT +2hour time zone. 4

6 RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THE SELECTED HOTELS AND IN KIGALI Lemigo Hotel The hotel offers wireless internet, the Health Club (Steambath, Gym, Spa, and Swimming Pool) and the hotel s Night Club which opens every week from Thursday to Saturday. Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday the hotel organizes live music by the poolside from 7-10 p.m. Other services offered at the hotel include massage therapy, a poolside restaurant, and a barbecue. The hotel is also at close proximity from Select Restaurant, Shokola Light, Sole Luna, and Meze Fresh Restaurant. Gorillas Golf Hotel Gorillas Golf Hotel is located at close proximity from Kigali Golf Club and Kigali Tennis Club. The hotel also offers wireless internet, the swimming pool and the hotel s gym. There is also a restaurant and a bar, and the hotel is also located at close proximity from different restaurants and cafes, such as Bourbon Coffee, Sakae Restaurant, Zen Restaurant, Select Restaurant, and Sole Luna. Mille Collines Hotel Mille Collines Hotel is located in the city center at close proximity from a number of souvenir shops, cafés, and restaurants such as Kigali city bourbon Coffee, Chez John Restaurant, Chez Robert Restaurant, Republika Restaurant, The Whitehorse, Heaven Restaurant, and New Cactus Restaurant. It is also located at close proximity from Serena Hotel and Golden Hills Hotel. The hotel offers wireless internet, swimming pool, tennis, Happy Hour everyday from to 19.30, and live music every day from to except on Sundays. There is also a poolside bar, a poolside restaurant, a panorama restaurant, and a Lounge bar Golden Hills Golden Hills Hotel rooms have wireless internet, there is also a restaurant and a bar which opens until 23.00, Other services include massage therapy and hairdressing. The hotel is located in the city center next to Chez Robert Restaurant, and at close proximity from souvenir shops, restaurants and cafés. 5

7 Kigali Serena Hotel The Serena Hotel-Kigali has a Gym the Spirit Spa, and swimming pool. The hotel has wireless internet in all massage therapies and other body treatments. The Hotel rooms. The hotel offers various relaxation services such as organizes Jazz, Blues, and Soul nights every Tuesday and Thursdays from 6.30pm; Mongolian Food Night on Wednesdays and Saturdays and African Food and Music Night on Fridays. Serena Hotel is also at close proximity from the town center and from the vibrant neighborhood of Nyamirambo. For further information regarding other recreational activities around Kigali, please visit www. livinginkigali.com/, and for any information regarding worship sites near the selected hotels, please contact the EVENT MANAGER. FURTHER INFORMATION For general enquiries in advance or during the workshop, please contact: Ms. Amata Sangho Diabaté Senior Economist Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) amata.diadate@undp.org Mr. Edward B. Sennoga Country Economist African Development Bank Office phone: Cell phone: +250-(0) e.sennoga@afdb.org For health matters Dr. Alpha Ousmane Diallo UN Physician Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) or (0) diallo.alpha@undp.org Ms. Astride Muhikira UN Dispensary Nurse Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) diallo.alpha@undp.org Mr. Janvier Wussinu UNDP Deputy Country Director/Operations Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) janvier.wussinu@undp.org For Protocol matters Mr. Celestin MAKUZA AEC Event Manager Cell Phone: +250 (0) celestin.m@theeventsfactory.biz Mr. Chrys Birasa Protocol Assistant Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) chrys.birasa@undp.org For safety and security matters For Security matters Mr. Edouard Tossou UNDSS Security Advisor Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) edouard.tossou@undss.org Ms. Anym Ngu-muthi UNDSS Deputy Security Advisor Office Phone: +250 (0) Cell Phone: +250 (0) / anym.ngu-muthi@undss.org 6

8