Addis Ababa is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for int’l conference – MFA Spox

Addis Ababa, May 29, 2025 (FMC) – Addis Ababa has reinforced its position as a premier hub for international diplomacy and conference tourism with the successful hosting of multiple high-level regional and global summits in recent weeks, the Ethiopian foreign ministry asserted.

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Nebiat Getachew pointed to Addis Ababa’s recent hosting of major regional and international events, underscoring Addis Ababa’s growing status as a diplomatic and conference center for Africa and beyond.

He cited events such as ETEX 2025, the ILO Africa Regional Meeting, the ID4Africa Conference, two IGAD summits, the African Insurance Organisation Conference, and the Ethiopia Finance Forum as evidence of the capital’s rising prominence in the global conference arena.

“These high-level events confirm Addis Ababa’s role not only as the diplomatic capital of Africa, but also as a leading venue for international gatherings,” Ambassador Nebiat said.

In addition to developments in economic and political diplomacy, the Spokesperson also provided updates on Ethiopia’s citizen-oriented diplomatic efforts. He announced that more than 700 Ethiopians who were stranded in Myanmar have been successfully repatriated.

The Ministry urged citizens to refrain from illegal travel to countries with which Ethiopia does not have formal labor agreements, stressing that such journeys often result in dire humanitarian conditions. Ambassador Nebiat emphasized the importance of community awareness in discouraging unsafe migration.

The briefing also touched on Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos’s participation in the Third EU-African Union Ministerial Meeting. Ambassador Nebiat said the forum provided an opportunity to advocate for Ethiopia’s national interests through both bilateral and multilateral engagements.

Investment package agreements were signed during the EU-AU meetings to support the African Union’s Agenda 2063. According to Ambassador Nebiat, The agreements aim to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, climate security, private sector development, and science and technology.