LONDON: Premier League club Arsenal confirmed Africa’s Rwanda Development Board as their first official sleeve partner on Wednesday.
As a part of the deal, ‘Visit Rwanda’ will become Arsenal’s official Tourism Partner and its logo will feature on the left sleeve of all teams next season.
The new kit for season 2018/19 was unveiled on Tuesday.
Through this agreement, Rwanda aims to promote itself as a leading global tourist destination. It is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and ranked as the second easiest place to do business in the continent by the World Bank. It has been awarded for its leadership in tourism and competitiveness by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Economic Forum respectively.
Rwanda Development Board chief executive officer Clare Akamanzi said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Arsenal and showcasing the vibrancy and beauty of our country. Rwanda is a country pulsing with energy, creativity and innovation.
“Visit Rwanda and discover why we are the second fastest growing economy in Africa. Investors in Rwanda are able to register their businesses in only six hours and prepare to enjoy the opportunities accrued from the free trade agreements that we’ve signed with over 50 countries.
“Renowned for our incredible and unique Mountain Gorilla tracking experience, tourist can also enjoy a variety of water sports, cycling, hiking, bird watching to list a few of the touristic attractions available while in Rwanda.”
Arsenal’s chief commercial officer Vinai Venkatesham commented on the development: “This is an exciting partnership which will see us support Rwanda’s ambition to build their tourism industry. The country has been transformed in recent years and Arsenal’s huge following will bring Rwanda into people’s minds in a new and dynamic way.
“The Arsenal shirt is seen 35 million times a day globally and we are one of the most viewed teams around the world. We look forward to working with the ‘Visit Rwanda’ team to further establish the country as a leading tourist destination.”
Arsenal players from the men’s and women’s teams will visit Rwanda and club coaches will host coaching camps to support the development of the game for boys and girls in the Country.
‘Visit Rwanda’ will gain global exposure through branding on matchday LED boards at Emirates Stadium, all the interview backdrops and a broad range of other marketing rights.
