November 20, 2025
Semera-Logia, November 10, 2018 (K.E.M.L.M.) The 10th Ethiopian Cities Forum, which was held for five consecutive days starting from November 6, has concluded.
The 10th Ethiopian Cities Forum concluded today with the closing ceremony attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Ato Temesgen Tiruneh, the President of the Afar Regional State, His Excellency Haji Awol Arba, the Minister of Urban Development and Infrastructure, His Excellency Ms. Chaltu Sani, federal and regional officials, representatives of neighboring countries, city mayors, development partners, elders and religious leaders, as well as representatives of participating cities.
The forum was successfully concluded peacefully with various initiatives and activities, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the peace-loving and loving Afar regional community and security forces, said the Head of the Afar National Regional State, His Excellency Haji Awel Arba, in his closing remarks and when handing over the emblem to the host city of the 11th Cities Forum, Assosa City.
The Head of the Region, His Excellency Haji Awel Arba, said that he feels great pride and gratitude to be among you at this great Cities Forum. The Honorable Head of the State said that for five consecutive days, we have discussed the development of our cities, shared invaluable experiences; we have paved new paths for the future of prosperous Ethiopian cities.
The Forum has reaffirmed that urbanization is not just about building cities, but also about building inclusive, resilient and prosperous societies. It has shown us how challenges can be turned into opportunities with integrated planning, strong institutions, innovation and citizen participation, the Head of State said.
The 10th Ethiopian Cities Forum not only celebrated our achievements but also highlighted the need to address the development challenges of our society by focusing on the tasks that deserve our attention more than ever, and said that we must work day and night to address the development challenges of our society, going beyond the usual routines.
In this regard, I would like to thank the federal and regional leaders who made the Forum a success; the international partners and development agencies whose continuous support has been invaluable; as well as the professionals who shape our cities with their expertise and experience; the private sector and civic associations; Above all, I would like to express my great appreciation to all citizens and community representatives who have guided us with their voices,” said His Excellency Haji Awel Arba.
As we return to the conclusion of the 10th Ethiopian Cities Forum, the Head of State said that leadership at all levels is expected to make joint efforts to achieve the expected goal by strengthening the coordination at the government level, using innovation and technology for urban transformation, placing citizens, especially youth, women and vulnerable groups at the center of our policies, and bringing such issues to the ground.
Finally, he thanked all the organizers, partners and participants who contributed to the success of the 10th Ethiopian Cities Forum, and conveyed his message in the closing program, saying that let us work together to achieve our vision of making our cities centers of prosperity and role models.
