Addis Ababa Riverside Project Driving Urban Renewal, Job Creation: PM Abiy

Addis Ababa, June 5, 2026 — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has described Addis Ababa’s Riverside Development Project as a transformative urban renewal initiative that is reshaping the capital city, generating employment opportunities, and advancing sustainable development.

He said that it is far more than a riverbank beautification effort, describing it as a comprehensive urban transformation program that is redefining the city’s landscape while creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities.

 

 

In a social media post, the Prime Minister noted that the project stretches across the Entoto-Peacock corridor and the Entoto–Kebena corridor, extending up to 50 meters beyond the riverbanks.

He said the initiative is creating green corridors, public gathering spaces, pedestrian-friendly walkways, recreational facilities, and commercial areas that are contributing to the city’s modernization.

The project’s impact extends beyond physical infrastructure, he said.

 

 

He further stated that the development has created employment opportunities for thousands of people in construction, engineering, landscaping, logistics, and related sectors, while also opening new business prospects for local contractors, suppliers, and service providers.

The Premier emphasized that much of the project’s design and implementation has been undertaken by Ethiopian professionals, demonstrating the country’s growing expertise in urban planning, infrastructure development, and project execution.

 

 

PM Abiy also highlighted the environmental benefits of the initiative, noting that areas previously used as dumping sites and prone to flooding have been transformed into cleaner, greener, and healthier public spaces.

Communities living along the riverbanks are expected to benefit from improved environmental conditions and enhanced public amenities, he added.

The Prime Minister said the integration of commercial facilities with public and environmental spaces illustrates how economic development and ecological restoration can complement each other.

Describing the project as a long-term investment in the city’s future, PM Abiy said the Riverside Development Initiative is helping build a greener, more connected, economically vibrant, and people-centered Addis Ababa for future generations.