Mekelle, Ethiopia - Millennium Cities Initiative - Columbia University

10 Mekelle, Ethiopia: Potential Opportunities for Investment
Political climate
Ethiopia is the largest country in East Africa. As a landlocked country,
Ethiopia shares boundaries with Eritrea to the north, Kenya to the
south, Somalia and Djibouti to the east and Sudan to the west. Its
growing population of nearly 74 million (2007) makes it the second
most populous country in Africa. The majority of the population
(85 percent) is rural and engaged in agricultural production.
Map of Ethiopia with neighbouring countries
Egypt
Sudan
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Source: Millennium Cities Initiative Report, 2009
Notes: One international airport Bole located in Addis Ababa
No sea ports
Mekelle
Addis Abada
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Somalia
Historically, Ethiopia has been isolated
politically and culturally from its East
African neighbours. This has changed
in recent years as the government has
committed itself to supporting regional
trade and broadening interactions among
African countries. Ethiopia is now a
member of the Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
and home to the Africa Union.
Ethiopia is a federal republic, which is
ruled by President Girma Woldegiorgis.
In 1995, Ethiopia adopted a new
constitution that fostered a multi-party
democracy and peaceful elections.
A two-and-a-half-year border war with
Eritrea ended with the signing of a peace
treaty on 12 December 2000.
As one of only two countries in Africa
that have never been colonised (Liberia
being the other), Ethiopia maintains
a unique role in Africa’s history. It has
long been looked to as a source of
pan-African culture and leadership. When
the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
was established in 1963, Addis Ababa
was chosen as its headquarters. Addis
Ababa is also home to the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
and is a major hub of Non Governmental
Organisation activity on the continent.
© 2010 KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG
International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG
International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. All rights reserved.