China Development Bank reaffirms support for Ethiopian Airlines’ new mega airport project

Addis Ababa, June 27, 2025 (FMC) — The China Development Bank (CDB) has reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s Mega Airport City project, the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing told Fana Media Corporation today.

This was expressed during a high-level meeting in Beijing on June 27, 2025, between CDB Vice President Wang Peng and Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Ahmed Shide.

The discussions focused on strengthening ongoing cooperation and exploring new opportunities to advance Africa’s largest airport development. Both parties reviewed recent progress on the project, including financial arrangements and next steps for implementation.

Minister Ahmed emphasized the critical importance of sustained investment in infrastructure to boost connectivity across Africa and beyond. He also requested that CDB dispatch a technical team to conduct a joint on-site assessment in collaboration with relevant Ethiopian institutions.

The China Development Bank expressed strong support for Ethiopia’s development goals and reaffirmed its readiness to provide the necessary resources and expertise to ensure the project’s success.

The Mega Airport City, located near Bishoftu about 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, is designed to handle over 130 million passengers annually, making it Africa’s largest airport upon completion. The airport will feature four runways, a 1.1 million square meter terminal, and extensive airline and cargo facilities, significantly expanding Ethiopia’s aviation capacity.

This new facility is expected to alleviate operational and altitude limitations faced by Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport and position Ethiopia as a leading global aviation and logistics hub. The project is a key pillar of Ethiopia’s long-term vision to strengthen economic integration and foster regional connectivity.