The much-anticipated Addis International Convention Centre, spanning 40 hectares, was officially inaugurated last week. It is set to become the country’s largest conference venue, designed to host both national and international events. The centre features two large halls, each accommodating 3,000 to 4,000 people. It also includes eight smaller meeting rooms, bringing its total capacity to 10,000 attendees. Two hotels, with a combined 1,000-bed capacity, will serve both local and international guests. For large-scale events, the centre offers an outdoor exhibition area for up to 50,000 people and two hectares of dedicated exhibition space. An additional 15,000 sqm is available for various external activities. The venue is equipped with banks, shops, cafes, and restaurants. The Addis Abeba City Administration (AACA) is the largest shareholder, investing 606 million Br. Other major investors include the Ethiopian Tourist & Trading Enterprises (ETTE) with 170 million Br, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) with 150 million Br, the Public Servants Social Security Agency (PSSSA) with 130 million Br, and the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC) with 100 million Br. In a 2013 public offering, 300,000 shares valued at 10 million Br were sold, attracting both private and public investors. The centre later increased its capital to 1.5 billion Br.

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