Addis Ababa means New Flower in Amharic and was given the name when the capital was moved here in 1896. Today a new New Flower is coming in Addis Ababa. High rise buildings, western style and quality accomodation, industry as well boulevards and avenues for the continuously growing car park, is replacing the "village of villages" Addis Ababa used to be.
14/05/2008 ::
Some quarters of the capital have reminded most people of the "countryside moved to town" rather than the capital of Ethiopia and Africa. The affluence among the fast growing middle class allows people a new kind of life and creates a high market for imported food stuff and articles, straining the trade balance despite fast growing exports.
On the north-eastern part of Addis Ababa, a whole new town is litteraly being constructed, in other areas old shacks are removed to make place for condominiums. Shopping centres abound with high quality imported products as well as traditional Ethiopian products. Restaurant life is fast changing and the traditional Hilton and Sheraton hotels now prepare for a more competitive market with Novotel, Accor and Marriot entering the fray in a more liberalized Ethiopian economy.
Still however, the official minimum wage is less than 400 birr (200 NOK) a month indicating a more class divided society in the Ethiopian towns. Is that the cost to pay for development?
Royal Norwegian Embassy, Addis Ababa emb.addisabeba@mfa.no