Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The grand opening of the New International Convention Center today marks a major milestone in Ethiopia’s efforts to establish itself as a premier destination for global business events, conferences, and exhibitions. Situated on 40 hectares of prime land, the center is designed to accommodate a diverse range of events, from corporate gatherings to cultural festivals, significantly enhancing the country’s hospitality and tourism sectors.
With cutting-edge infrastructure, the center aims to foster both local and international collaboration, offering world-class facilities for those attending major events. It is positioned to become the largest conference facility in Ethiopia and one of the most expansive in East Africa, bolstering the country’s standing in the international events and conventions industry.
Key Specifications of the New International Convention Center:
- Total Area: 40 hectares of land
- Conference Halls:
- Two large halls with a capacity of 3,000 to 4,000 people each
- Eight small and medium-sized meeting halls with a total capacity of up to 10,000 people
- Accommodation:
- Two hotels with a combined capacity of 1,000 beds
- Exhibition Spaces:
- Outdoor exhibition area capable of hosting up to 50,000 people
- Two amphitheaters designed for outdoor events and performances
- 2 hectares of outdoor exhibition space
- Commercial Facilities:
- Two shopping malls
- A variety of restaurants, commercial shops, banks, and other service providers
- Parking Capacity: The facility is equipped to accommodate thousands of vehicles, providing ample parking for event attendees
- Strategic Location: Located adjacent to Lemi Park, the second-largest square in Addis Ababa after Meskel Square
The center’s modern infrastructure is paired with a prime location, strategically adjacent to Lemi Park, which offers a serene yet accessible environment for both business professionals and visitors. This proximity to one of the city’s largest public spaces also contributes to the convention center’s role in further enhancing the city’s vibrancy and economic activity.
The New International Convention Center is set to host a variety of events, ranging from corporate conferences and international trade fairs to cultural exhibitions and live performances. The flexible design of the venue ensures it can cater to different types of gatherings, with options for both large-scale events and more intimate business meetings.
Why This Matters for Ethiopia:
The opening of the center is expected to significantly boost Ethiopia’s position in the global event-hosting market. By attracting international conferences and exhibitions, the center will drive tourism, create new business opportunities, and provide a platform for local industries to showcase their products and services. It will also play a crucial role in fostering economic growth, offering a venue that can accommodate both public and private sector events, thereby attracting investors, businesses, and entrepreneurs from around the world.
The Mayor’s Office has expressed optimism that the center will become a key asset to Ethiopia’s tourism strategy, facilitating long-term economic benefits through increased international exposure and greater opportunities for collaboration. With its expansive capacity and state-of-the-art facilities, the New International Convention Center is poised to become a flagship venue for the region and beyond, enhancing Ethiopia’s reputation as a leading destination for world-class events.
The New International Convention Center is not only a testament to Ethiopia’s growing infrastructure capabilities but also an investment in the nation’s future as a central hub for global business and cultural exchange. The facility is expected to make a lasting impact on both the local economy and Ethiopia’s international standing.
Hello Dear Countrymen!!!!
You know me by now that I have nothing but love for you. I am here to let you hear from me something that is very special for me both as your dear countryman but also as a man of color. That story and the day I am sharing with you is that glorious day etched in stone never to be concealed or left forgotten. It is that day that sends megawatt volts of pride all over my high mileage body every time I think or read about it. It is that glorious day, that day my and your grandparents marched into the hills, ravines and fields of Adwa knowing that it would be their last day on this good earth. They did that because no one had to tell them that it was their Allah given rights to defend their Allah bestowed domiciles from murderous bigots. No one had to tell them that heavily armed ‘KKK thugs’ were there to shoot and hang every ‘ni..er’ in sight. They were in complete understanding that the enemy they were facing at that place on that day behooves them to be calculating and also well prepared. They understood very well that a vast network of intelligence must be in place to play that heathen on their doorstep. And they played him very, very well. It was written that the mad as hell patriotic chief from Tigrai was sending ‘secret’ messages to Baratieri his intention to defect to his side and he was waiting for the Italian chief to fire the first shot. It was also written about the ‘secret’ messages the emperor’s cousin Mekonen along with chiefs Haimanot and Mika-il(Ali) were urging him to come and kill their common enemy, the emperor. It was written that they were ‘telling’ Baratieri that the emperor army is getting thinner and fewer by the day that he was thinking about cutting and run for his life.
They pondered!!! They lured!!! They lured and lured the monster from Rome until he was well inside their compound. When their single and double envelopment war plan was firmly on the ground they lured him again to fire the first shot. Dabormida might have sent a message to his wife that the very next day he would shoot a photo of him surrounded and being served by 3,000 ‘n…ers’. What he did not know was the fact my Barentu ‘grand uncle’ and his Amhara, Tigrai and many other ethnic groups were watching his every move and primed to show him and his partners-in-crime how lethal an Ethiopian could be when his pride is touched by outsiders and ready to teach him a lesson or two how to conduct a conventional warfare Alula style, Mekonnen style, Taytu style, Haimanot style, Mika-il(Ali) style, Balcha style, Dinagde style leaving him no counteroffensive option! None! None except for Baratieri to cut and run like a scared witless rabbit or rather like a high noon bank robber chased by blood smelling vigilante mob!!!! But for my ni..gg..az information or rather misinformation was part of the game. You think that misinformation was started by KGB and CIA during the cold war. No!!! It was my and your grandparents who perfected and used it from the bottom of the deck to their advantage. They painted themselves as if they were deserted, far and few when their rank was swelling by the day!!! They presented themselves as people who love to run naked or half naked and did not have any clue what warfare is or how it was supposed to be conducted as an organized army.
They even sent him fattened cattle, honey and milk to make him think they were still like his Neanderthals ancestors who were incapable of distinguishing friends from enemies. By now the Baratieri’s ego was so built up and emboldened by the news of potential desertion at the outset of war ordered the commencement of the battle. But his worst nightmare was awaiting him. His worst nightmare, a ni..g.a with a Hotchkiss gun on his lap was all around him even before finishing his recital to the Roman gods. He could hear that thunderous scream of that fire spitting woman named Taytu admonishing those soldiers of the fainted hearts who tried to withdraw prematurely from the battle fronts!!!! He could hear her telling them that she did not bring enough skirt for them to wear when they go back to their villages!!!! And he could hear them telling that roaring Taytu like ‘Don’t talk to me like that, woman! I am going back!’ Baratieri saw those incensed men turning into killing machines, their fainted hearts gone in a flash!!! Now the earth and sky were laminated all around him with little leeway for folding back or escape. Now my Barentu grand cousin and his comrades in arms started playing the complicated Mancala game in the middle of the battle. On one of their moves they led the arrogant Dabormida and his entire battalion plus army right into the welcoming arms of my Barentu grand cousins. When the carnage was over Dabormida was dying squealing like untidy pig. Now arch angels Jibril and Mika-il were in the mix.
They were in the mix because that land of Maryam Magdalene and Bilal ibn Rabah was being desecrated by ruffians. They were in the mix because that land and its people were put together there by Allah at the beginning of times no matter the numerous and unabated travesties they had to go through. It is because it was the land where the two major religions, Christianity and Islam, had taken foothold there without the need of an all out battle. The battle Baratieri started on that day did not even last the entire length of the daylight. For intents and purposes it was over by the mid day. At 12 high noon, it was over. Now Baratieri turned around and ran like a scared deer from the Chercher Mountains!!! One of my grand cousins along with his Tigrayan and Amhara friends were in hot pursuit after him. But his horse was still fresh and not like their battle fatigued ones. But they stood on top of one the hills and told him who he really was. Oh Boy!!!! They were telling him using all kinds of words in their profane dictionary. No, I am not telling you what they yelled at him. No, no this is a family show. But I can tell you one so mildly. All three of them thundered at him like ‘You, the son of a thousand biscuits!!!!’ It seems he heard it all slammed into his bigoted ears carried by the drifting wind. How do I know that? You may ask. That is because I was teleported to that day!!!! I saw that thunderous lady Taytu telling off the retreating soldiers!!! You should all read more about her. Now some of you misogynistic pigs may doubt her role just because she was a woman. I highly suggest that you don’t say that around Lia bin Tadesse, Alemtsehay bint Wodajo, Birtukan bint Mideksa, Meaza bint Ashenafe, Muferiat bint Kamil, Aisha bint Mohammed bin Mussa and others in their posse who have been giving chauvinists like you that deadly stare of death. For now this high mileage, beyond-repair Afro-Ethio-centric n..ga has been having a serious bout of an attitude since this morning!!!!!