The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is a step closer to initiating the renovation of Africa Hall. The Commission signed a contractual agreement with a consortium of local and international construction firms for the 28.2-million-dollar project.

The project was awarded to a joint venture,  Africa Hall Projects FZE, created by the 38-year-old Italian construction firm CONSTRUZIONI 2000 S.R.I.; the UAE firm R.C. Trade; and the local firm Bridge Construction.

The agreement was signed between Alem Kiros, director for Africa Hall Projects FZE, and Carlos Haddad, ECA's director of administration, on May 10, 2019. The start date for the renovation work will be decided during a kickoff meeting planned later this month.

The renovation will include infrastructure upgrades on the main African Hall building, a new entry building for visitors, a parking area, upgrades to the ECA compound perimeter wall and road work.

Located inside the ECA compound on Menelik II Avenue, the project is expected to be completed in 30 months. The renovation of the Hall was approved by the United Nations General Assembly with a budget of 57 million dollars some four years ago.

Built in 1961 by Emperor Haile Selassie, Africa Hall has served as the headquarters of ECA ever since. Considered a historic building, and having undergone an expansion in the 1970s, it was here that the Organisation of African Unity, later African Union, was founded.