Ethiopia, AfDB sign accord to cooperate on Ethiopia's new mega airport

Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a partnership agreement to collaborate on the construction of Ethiopia's new mega international airport, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance. The partnership accord was signed on Friday by Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, and Nnenna Nwabufo, vice president for regional development, integration and business delivery at the AfDB, the ministry said in a statement issued on Saturday. During the letter of intent signing ceremony, Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide appreciated the AfDB's "comprehensive support" to Ethiopia's development, with a current investment portfolio of more than 1.2b U.S. dollars in key development sectors. Highlighting that the East African country's ongoing macroeconomic reform efforts are critical to driving inclusive growth and building a robust economy, Shide acknowledged the AfDB's support for Ethiopia's development. Commending the two sides' partnership on Ethiopia's Bishoftu International Airport Development Project, the finance minister also requested the bank's support for the country's macroeconomic reform agenda as well as other transformational projects.<br/>