MOFCOM provides grant for Addis Ababa River Bank Green Development Project

Project narrative

On April 24, 2019, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the Government of Ethiopia signed a grant agreement worth ETB 3,697,262,819 (approximately RMB 468,073,472) for the Addis Ababa River Bank Green Development Project. According to the Government of Ethiopia’s Aid Management Platform (AMP), the ETB 3,697,262.819 grant for the Addis Ababa River Bank Green Development Project achieved a 58% disbursement rate as of April 2024, with MOFCOM making two grant disbursements in 2020 and four grant disbursements in 2024 worth ETB 2,152,588,288: an ETB 1,082,480,032 disbursement on June 17, 2020, an ETB 345,059,993 disbursement on November 3, 2020, an ETB 103,578,323 disbursement on April 9, 2024, an ETB 103,578,323 disbursement on April 9, 2024, an ETB 310,734,970 disbursement on April 9, 2024, and an ETB 207,156,647 disbursement on April 9, 2024. The purpose of the project’s first phase is to construct a "Central Square" (also known as “Friendship Park”) on a 27-32 hectare piece of land across from the Sheraton Hotel as well as the Central Axis of Etiquette, a waterfall belt on Kechene River, a central rally plaza, a lakeside fountain, a music square, five amphitheaters, and an artificial pond. All Phase 1 project activities are located along a 3.5 km stretch of the 12 km Kechene river (also known as the Banteyiketu or Bantyketu river) from Entoto Mountain to Peacock Reach. Central Square includes a recreational avenue with various recreational activities. The purpose of the project’s second phase is to construct a science and technology museum, children’s amusement park, sports centre, waterfront, auxiliary buildings and dome theatre as well as supporting facilities such as roads, pavement, ornamental lighting, green irrigation. and landscaping. The project’s second phase occupies a 17.85 hectare areas. The building area is 13,053 square meters, mainly including science and technology museum, dome theater, children's playground and supporting buildings, square paving, landscape roads and green irrigation. China Urban Construction Design & Research Institute is the contractor responsible for project design and management. First Highway Engineering Group (CFHEC), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), is the general contractor responsible for the implementation of the project’s first phase. ASER Construction Plc is also involved in Phase 1 implementation as a subcontractor. Jiangsu Nantong Sanjian Construction Group Company, a subsidiary of the Jiangsu Nantong Sanjian Group Corporation of China, is the general contractor responsible for the project’s second phase. In April 2019, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the China Urban Construction Design & Research Institute to review the proposed project design. Then, on May 18, 2019, a project concept note was developed. CFHEC and ASER Construction Plc signed a subcontractor agreement on July 23, 2019. Several months later, on October 1, 2019, a formal groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 took place. All stonework demolition work was completed on November 23, 2019. Phase 1, which was originally expected to reach completion by May 2020 as a gift for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, was ultimately completed on August 20, 2020. It achieved completion acceptance in November 2020 and was officially handed over to the Ethiopian Government on March 1, 2021. A Phase 1 completion ceremony was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on June 14, 2021. Phase 2 was originally scheduled to commence in May 2020 and reach completion within 14 months (July 2021). It officially commenced on September 10, 2020. As part of Phase 2, a dome-shaped, state-of-the-art science museum complex in Addis Ababa was officially inaugurated in October 2022. Covering an area of 6.78 hectares, the museum complex rests on a 15,000-meter square of land with a height of 9-meters and carrying two floors. The main floor contains a visitor's center, two large exhibition halls, an amphitheater and various offices and a cafeteria area. The scenic 360 rooftop houses a solar farm and a roof garden for relaxing outside. The second part of the science museum is the Dome Theater which is a 3-dimensional cinema with 24-meters height and 450-meter square space and is able to accommodate up to 200 people at a time. Phase 1 and Phase 2 are part of a larger 3-year initiative — known as the Beautifying Sheger Project — to increase Ethiopia’s green spaces from 0.3m2 per capita to 7m2 per capita. Phase 1 and Phase 2 are centered along a 56 km river stream from Entoto to Akaki. The Addis Ababa River Bank Green Development Project has reportedly already created 1500 local jobs, with 5000 workers projected to be hired upon project completion to sustain the site.