ADDIS ABABA: Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh announced that Ethiopia’s construction industry has reached a significant milestone, contributing 21 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

According to Ethiopian News Agency, who made the remark while inaugurating the Big 5 Construct Ethiopia 2024 Exhibition and Expo in Addis Ababa, the construction sector is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of over 8 percent. The event, themed “Build Ethiopia,” was attended by the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Tagesse Chaffo, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie, and Urban and Infrastructure Minister Chaltu Sani, among other stakeholders. Tiruneh highlighted the government’s efforts to create an enabling environment for investment and development in the construction industry, which plays a vital role in infrastructure development and job creation. He stated that Ethiopia can supply 80 percent of the construction materials needed within the country and emphasized the government’s commitment to the industry’s growth through a 10-year development plan prioritizing roads, railways, and special economic zones.

The Big 5 Construct Ethiopia 2024 exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure and the Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation, aims to provide a platform for local and international construction companies to showcase their products and services. The three-day event is expected to attract over 9,000 industry professionals and feature more than 150 exhibitors from 30 countries.