'Medemer' Interrupts Livestock Trade Show

Oct 19 , 2019. By GELILA SAMUEL ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITER )

The launching event for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's (PhD) book "Medemer" interrupted the fifth edition of the African Livestock Exhibition & Congress Trade show, which was being held at Millennium Hall.

Booking the venue and making a full payment over a year ago, Parana Events launched the trade conference on October 17 to be held until 19, 2019 with the attendance of 100 participants from more than 10 different countries. However, the exhibitors were informed to evacuate the venue on the evening of October 18, 2019, at short notice.

Addis Park Development & Management, operator of Millennium Hall, told exhibitors to evacuate the hall just one day ahead of the book launch.

“At 6:00pm we heard an announcement to evacuate the hall immediately," said Eyob Daniel from Abyssinia Poultry, one of the exhibitors. "But at mid-day, there were already rumours that we could be forced to leave the venue."

The venue was booked for the launching event of the long-awaited book, titled "Medemer" in Amharic and "Ida’amu" in Afaan Oromo, which was held on October 19 at Millennium Hall and was attended by over 8,000 people from all over the country.

Nebeyu Lemma, founder and managing director at Parana Events, claimed that they were informed about the evacuation beforehand.

"Because of the incident," said Nebeyu, "our company incurred financial losses and was liable for additional expenses to rearrange the event."

While signing an agreement with Addis Park, Parana agreed to an article in the contract, which states that pre-booked events can be cancelled upon the occurrence of government events.

But the organisers argue that the management of the venue should have told them in advance to avoid any inconveniences for the exhibitors and visitors.

The next day, the trade show was relocated to Torhailoch Square, Keranio Plaza, and was re-opened to visitors on October 19, 2019.

Yodan Tilahun, managing director of Flawless Events, a prominent event organiser, stressed that the consequence of this action would negatively affect tourism, investment confidence and the country’s image.

"With the limited venue options to hold such events, the action taken demoralises the private sector," she tweeted.

The African Livestock Exhibition & Congress is the premier livestock technology international trade fair organised to promote the development of the sector through trade facilitation and investment promotion. The show featured an African livestock exhibition, the ninth Ethio Poultry Expo, and the first Aquaculture & Apiculture Exhibition.

PUBLISHED ON Oct 19,2019 [ VOL 20 , NO 1016]