Plan to Connect Addis Abeba With Surrounding Special Zones

An area structure plan, designed to integrate economic and social activities in Addis Abeba with those of the surrounding Oromia Special Zones, could be in place soon, after stakeholders from the government and international organisations held a four day meeting, from June 26- 29, 2013, in Adama Town.

The plan, which the Addis Abeba & Oromia Special Zones Project Office has been working on with experts from the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC) for over a year, is expected to formulate uniform development policies and strategies.

At the meeting, held at the Addis Ababa Theatre & Cultural Hall last week, residents discussed the plan and presented their feedback to the project office.

The new structural plan takes into account the common interests of the city and the surrounding Oromia Special Zones. It will also be abreast with current city planning strategy, which includes integrated land use with transportation facilities.

“The primary objective of the plan is not only to provide solutions for urbanisation problems, but also to meet international standards,” said Fetuma Lemesa, deputy director of the project office, at the discussion in the National Theatre. ‘‘The municipalities of the towns and Addis Abeba will have their own internal plan, which will go with the new structural plan.’’

The project office, which was established in 2011 for formulating and implementing the strategic plan, is led by a board of directors, in which Kuma Demeksa, mayor of Addis Abeba; Abdulaziz Mohamed, deputy president of Oromia Regional State and Umer Hussein, head of the Oromia Special Zones, are members.

In the current fiscal year, the respective administrations allocated 18 million Br for the project office, in order to carry out its activities.

The plan is expected to be approved by the board and Addis Abeba City Cabinet after it is presented to officials of the eight regional states and experts of the Africa Union and United Nations, after two weeks, according to Sheleme Kebede, public relations head of the project office.

According to the plan, the special zones are divided into industry, service and settlement zones, based on their existing potential, economic base and geography. Dukem, Gelan, Burayou and Sebeta are identified by the plan to be industrial based towns, while Modjo was selected as a service hub. Chefe, Bonsa, Sululta and Burayou are identified as a suitable place for settlement.


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