The Exhibition Center and Market Development Enterprise (ECMDE) is a government owned Business Enterprise. It was founded in 1983 according to Proclamation No. 14/1991.   Basically, the ECMDE gives services to Local and Foreign Exhibition and Trade Fair Organizers. It also gives services to customers for Meeting, Graduation, Weeding, Musical Festival etc. purposes.

The Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (AACCSA) has started administering the ECMDE since November 10,2005 by signing rental contractual agreement with the Addis Ababa City Administration (Trade and Investment Bureau) for 10 years aiming at providing better services and maximizing productivity and profitability in a sustainable way. This unique and successful Public-Private-Partnership experience found to be exemplary as it has paved a way for Public and Private-Sector to work together for mutually valuable Developmental Projects through the provision of standardized services to customers etc.

Why PPP between Addis Ababa City Administration and Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations?

·        Like global experiences, Ethiopia’s Development Policy like the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), and the Growth and Transformational Plan (GTP) highly recognize the involvement of the private sector as the engine of growth.

·        Working in partnership brings along operational effectiveness, innovative technologies, managerial effectiveness, etc.

·        The steady development and the growing number of the private sector along with the flourishing of diverse economic sectors and the due attention given to the Micro and Small Enterprises have created the necessity to work in partnership.

·        Addis Ababa as a the headquarter of the United Nations, African Union, etc. should register Milestones in City Marketing through Public-Private Partnership.

·        PPP also helps the Addis Ababa City Administration and the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations to discharge the duties and responsibilities vested on them efficiently.

·        The AACCSA, with 60 Years Dedicated Service and Capacity, is an autonomous non-governmental and non-profit organization is serving in promoting socio-economic development and commercial promotion with the rest of the world. The AACCSA is a bridge between the Government between the Government and the Private Sector. It is also a member of the World Chamber of Commerce. This age-long diversified capacity is a great asset to the Addis Ababa City Administration and the country at large.

Currently the ECMDE has 33 permanent employees (19 men, and 14 women)

Services Like:

a)     Security

b)     Cleaning

c)     Generator Maintenance and Electrical

d)     Information Communication Technology (ICT) Partition Construction and Dismantling and related are outsourced.

2.      Vision, Mission, Objectives

·        Vision: Becoming the most preferred Exhibition/Trade Fair Center in East Africa.

·        Mission: To promote the Trade and Investment endeavors of Ethiopia, Attract Foreign Direct Investment and Build the Image of Ethiopia  by providing   efficient Exhibition/Trade Center Services and by maximizing profitability.

·        Objectives: The Objectives of the ECMDE include:

a) Promoting Trade and Investment by Providing Services to Local   and International Exhibition/Trade Fair Organizers

b) Creating Enabling Environment to Trade Fair Organizers, Exhibitors and Visitors

c) Building the Capacity of Trade Fair Organizers and Exhibitors through the Provision of Training

d) Encouraging the Organization of “Specialized Trade Fairs” to maximize the benefits of Trade Fairs and Exhibitions

e) Supporting the Promotional Efforts of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises and

f) Enhancing Productivity and Profitability as an Enterprise for profit.  

3.      Key Marketing Information

·        ECMDE is the only Exhibition/Trade Fair Center in Ethiopia.

·        Over 35 Local and International Trade Fairs in Agriculture, Construction, Leather, Information Technology, Education, Health, Automotive, Media, Tourism and Culture, Children, Micro and Small Enterprises, Environmental Protection, Youth Development, Food and Beverage, Textile, Electricity, Cosmetics and Fashion, Furniture, Home and Office Décor, Job,  Mining, Religion, etc are being held yearly.

·        Those Trade Fairs and Exhibitions are visited by over 4,000,000 people annually.

4.      The Role of the ECMDE in Promoting and Facilitating the Growth and Transformation Plan of Ethiopia

The Vision, Mission and Objectives of the ECMDE as stated above under No.2 directly commensurate with the objectives of the different Development Plans of Ethiopia like the Growth and Transformational Plan, Millennium Development Goal, and Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP). Because all plans focus on “achieving broad-based, accelerated and sustained economic growth to alleviate poverty”. Hence, supporting the ECMDE is accelerating the Development Plans of Ethiopia.