Government officials have ordered the completion of outstanding works at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) as Tanzania prepares to host thousands of delegates for the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Permanent secretaries from various ministries and members of the national technical committee inspected the conference venue on Friday, October 2, just two days before the assembly opens.
The inspection, led by AICC Executive Director Christine Mwakatobe, focused on facilities expected to support the October 4-9 meeting, including the main conference hall, breakout rooms, offices for leaders, sound and interpretation systems, media facilities and reception areas.
Officials directed the national organising committee to complete final repairs and improvements in areas still undergoing work before delegates begin arriving for the meeting.
The assembly is expected to bring about 2,000 participants to Arusha, including speakers, MPs, parliamentary secretaries and other officials representing 183 IPU member parliaments.
The scale of the gathering will put pressure on organisers to ensure that conference facilities, translation services, media access and other logistical arrangements are ready to handle the number of participants.
The final inspection comes as Tanzania prepares to host one of the largest international parliamentary gatherings in the country, with Arusha set to become a meeting point for lawmakers from across the world.
The IPU assembly will run from October 4 to 9, bringing together parliamentarians to discuss global issues and matters affecting their respective countries, while also strengthening cooperation among national parliaments.
For AICC, the event provides a major test of its capacity to handle a high-profile international meeting involving thousands of delegates and multiple simultaneous sessions.
With only a day remaining before the official start of the assembly's activities, organisers now face the final task of closing gaps identified during the inspection and ensuring that all critical facilities are operational.
The meeting is also expected to increase international attention on Tanzania's ability to host major conferences, with the country's conference and hospitality sectors set to support the influx of foreign visitors to Arusha.
Tanzania is hosting the assembly under a broader effort to position itself as a destination for major international meetings, with the event expected to bring together representatives of 183 parliaments in Arusha.