Addis Ababa: In a momentous event, Ethiopia’s newly built Addis International Convention Center (AICC) was inaugurated last weekend in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and high-level Ethiopian and foreign dignitaries. The completion of the center has been truly making Addis Ababa, ideal for global events. The Center is the latest addition to the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the MICE sector. Addis Ababa, considered as a political capital of Africa, has now completed the construction of the Center, the first and largest world-class convention and exhibition hub in Ethiopia. The Center is much anticipated to elevate the city’s status as a premier destination for global conferences and exhibitions.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, as the first, largest, and internationally standardized facility of its kind in the country, this world-class convention and exhibition center can accommodate major regional and international events. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of this world-class venue, Pr
ime Minister Abiy Ahmed underscored that the Convention Center plays a crucial role in attracting international events. He further revealed that the Center has become instrumental in fostering business tourism, and positioning the East African nation as a premier destination for global gatherings.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the center will serve as a trade venue and a place for exchanging ideas and diplomacy. Major events that connect Africa will take place here, such as the upcoming World AI Conference and Exhibition. He invited young people and students to visit this new facility, which will be open to the public for the next ten days, to explore and engage in ideas that reflect Ethiopia’s aspirations.
The Convention Center is situated on 40 hectares of land and features two large halls, each with a capacity to accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 people. The center also includes 8 small and medium meeting halls, accommodating a total of up to 10,000 people, and offers two hotels with a combined capacity of
1,000 beds. Addis International Convention Center is designed to meet international standards and accommodate a diverse range of events. The center will also house four large exhibition pavilions that are engineered for flexibility, allowing for easy division and combination to serve multiple events simultaneously.
Equipped with state-of-the-art venue facilities, the convention center is expected to be a prime location for large-scale exhibitions, trade fairs, and international conferences. Essentially, Ethiopia is embarking on a massive homegrown development, relying on its own capacity and development model, Prime Minister Abiy said. He further added the country has now been witnessing tremendous successes as a result of its sound development policy approach.
Prime Minister Abiy referenced the comments from the 38th African Union Summit participants, which was held last month. According to him, leaders from across the continent lauded Ethiopia’s development trajectory and success stories, particularly th
e ongoing Addis Ababa corridor development.
The Addis International Convention Center is a testament to Ethiopia’s aspiration to realize all-round prosperity. Prime Minister Abiy stated that the progress made in Addis Ababa through corridor development is being reinforced across many major cities of Ethiopia. He called for unity among the Ethiopian public to ensure prosperity, peace, and hope for the nation and Africa.
Addis Ababa City Administration Mayor Adanech Abebie expressed that the convention center is set to unlock significant trade and tourism opportunities for Ethiopia and Africa. She highlighted the city’s continuous infrastructure development under Prime Minister Abiy’s leadership, transforming Addis into a hub of diplomacy. Projects like the Adwa Victory Memorial and other initiatives have significantly enhanced the city’s competitiveness.
Tourism Minister Selamwit Kassa noted that the newly constructed Convention Center will revolutionize Ethiopia’s position in the MICE industry. The capital
, Addis Ababa, has hosted numerous international conferences in recent months, affirming its emerging status as a conference tourism hub.
Overall, the Addis International Convention Center is anticipated to significantly boost Ethiopia’s position in the global event-hosting market. It will attract international conferences, drive tourism, create business opportunities, and serve as a platform for local industries. The center will foster economic growth, providing a venue for public and private sector events, and attracting global investors and entrepreneurs.