The new headquarters building of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, the tallest building in East Africa built by Chinese contractors, was officially completed on Sunday, as the two countries continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the new year.
The new headquarters is located in the core business area of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with a total construction area of about 160,000 square meters and a height of 209.15 meters.
The project, built by China State Construction (CSCEC), began construction in July 2015. A senior official from the CSCEC said that during the past seven years, the company has overcome difficulties and completed the task with high quality, despite unfavorable factors including the sporadic flare-ups of the pandemic and the unstable situation in Ethiopia.
In addition, the construction of the project has provided more than 3,000 local jobs and has become a link of friendship between the two countries.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali praised the completion of the building, saying that the new building, which was inaugurated on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Commercial Bank, reflects the ambition of Ethiopia to advance the modernization and development of the banking sector.
President of the Commercial Bank said that he believes the new headquarters building will significantly improve the bank’s efficiency as well as bringing advanced technology to Ethiopia’s construction industry.
In 2021, the total value of import and export trade between China and Ethiopia reached more than $2.65 billion, an increase of 3.3 percent year-on-year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.
People wearing face masks cross a busy street in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Aug. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
