Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has declared that Addis Ababa, the diplomatic heart of Africa, is cementing its position as a premier conference tourism hub by hosting at least one international meeting every week.

Presenting the half-year performance report for the 2018 fiscal year to the House of People’s Representatives, the Prime Minister noted that ongoing urban transformation projects have done more than just improve livability for residents; they have sparked a significant surge in visits from the diaspora and foreign tourists alike.

The Prime Minister attributed the city’s ability to host consistent international summits to "day and night" efforts aimed at making Addis Ababa a model of prosperity, not just for Ethiopia, but for cities across the African continent.

The Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie, further revealed that the capital hosted approximately 150 international and continental events in the past six months alone. This represents a 50% increase compared to the same period last year, with the half-year figures nearly matching the total performance of the entire previous fiscal year.

According to the Mayor, these multi-sectoral development efforts have yielded tangible economic fruit. The influx of tourists over the last six months has injected 155 billion Birr into the economy, while fundamentally reshaping the city's global image.

Mayor Adanech added that Addis Ababa has now transitioned into a knowledge-sharing role, offering its development experiences to other African cities as a blueprint for urban prosperity.

The capital has already begun welcoming delegates as it finalizes preparations to host two major upcoming events: the 39th African Union Summit and the 2nd Italy–Africa Summit.