Addis Tomorrow: The Fourth Major City Project Launched Around Gotera in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia The construction of the Addis Tomorrow Special Economic Zone was officially launched today, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.) in attendance.

The project, known as the “Addis Tomorrow Special Economic Zone,” is a collaborative effort with China’s CCCC and spans 35 hectares of land. This ambitious development is akin to creating a new city within the city, featuring extensive amenities such as large shopping malls, residential apartments, offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, entertainment centers, water bodies, and sports complexes.

The Addis Tomorrow Special Economic Zone is part of the city administration’s broader plan to transform Addis Ababa into one of Africa’s top cities within the next three to five years. This transformation plan comprises three major initiatives:

1. Public-Private Partnerships: The government is actively collaborating with the private sector to develop large-scale city-level projects. Currently, there are three major ongoing projects: the Chaka Project, the Legehar Project, and the Mohammediya Project. The Addis Tomorrow project will become the fourth major endeavor, contributing to the city’s urban renewal and expansion.

2. Corridor Projects: These projects aim to enhance the road infrastructure of Addis Ababa while incorporating green spaces, standardizing building color codes, and improving lighting. The Corridor Projects cover the following routes:

• 4 Kilo to Piassa
• Piassa to Legehar (Legehar City)
• Legehar to Mexico (Mohammediya City)
• Mexico to Wello Sefer (Addis Tomorrow)
• Bole to Megenagna and CMC (Chaka Project)

These routes will connect the four major city projects, integrating them into the city’s overall development plan.

3. Enhancing Iconic Areas: This initiative focuses on uplifting and modernizing areas with iconic buildings. The project includes resettling tenants from shanty areas in these locations, improving living conditions, and revitalizing the city’s architectural heritage.

In addition to these urban development projects, the Ethiopian government is planning to boost earnings through tourism and remittances. This strategy follows recent major reforms in the financial sector and property ownership regulations. As part of these reforms, Ethiopia has floated its currency to close the gap with the black market and attract remittance earnings through legal channels. Furthermore, the government is now allowing property ownership for foreigners to attract foreign investment in the housing sector.

The Addis Tomorrow Special Economic Zone is expected to transform the city’s appearance, boost its international competitiveness, enhance its beauty, and create numerous job opportunities for residents. Additionally, it aims to promote business and become a major international shopping destination.

The project also includes infrastructure to support social services and is slated for rapid completion, according to information from the mayor’s office.