AMN Plus-May 18/2026
In a message shared on her official social media page Mayor of Addis Ababa Adanech Abiebie stated that the breadth and depth of Addis Ababa’s journey toward prosperity cannot be measured solely by the beautification of the city center.
“It is also reflected in our ability to recognize and utilize resources and areas that were previously underdeveloped, transforming them into centers of growth and development,” the Mayor noted.
According to the Mayor, five years ago the Gelan Gura area lacked even basic infrastructure. Today, however, the area has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a center of economic and social progress that reflects the city’s comprehensive development and structural transformation.
She emphasized that the achievements realized in the area go far beyond the establishment of an industrial park, describing the project as a complete transformation that has significantly improved both the physical landscape and the livelihoods of local residents.
Among the major developments highlighted by the Mayor are the construction of Addis Ababa’s first and largest modern bridge, measuring 325 meters in length and 60 meters in width, as well as the 21.73-kilometer modern road infrastructure project connecting Kaliti Ring Road–Tulu Dimtu and Kaliti Ring Road–Qilinto Square. The road project has helped streamline Ethiopia’s trade corridor while creating direct connectivity to the airport cargo terminal.
The Mayor also reaffirmed that the construction of 60,000 condominium housing units — equivalent to building an entirely new city — is aimed at addressing Addis Ababa’s housing shortage. She further highlighted the development of a modern and integrated residential village for residents relocated from the Kazanchis area, along with the construction of the Gelan Trauma Hospital, the largest facility of its kind in the city, designed to provide advanced healthcare services for the community.
In addition, the Mayor noted the establishment of a modern agricultural excellence center for farmers who provided land for the development project, the creation of spacious green areas and parks, sports facilities, children’s playgrounds, and an injera factory that is generating extensive employment opportunities for women. She added that these and other landmark developments have transformed Gelan Gura into one of the city’s most attractive and rapidly growing areas, even surpassing the appeal of some parts of the city center itself.
