Bahir Dar Airport in Ethiopia Gets New Terminal

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the new terminal of Bahir Dar Dejazmach Belay Zeleke International Airport in Bahir Dar city, the second-largest international airport in Ethiopia after Bole International Airport.

In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister stated that, in addition to its natural endowments, Bahir Dar is a historic city with the potential to become a model of development and prosperity for Ethiopia and Africa. The Prime Minister explained that the city has recently experienced significant revitalization through tourism, the construction of an industrial park, local road development, the massive Abay Bridge, and corridor development.

He noted that the construction of the new, large-scale airport terminal was also an opportunity to turn a challenge into an achievement. The previous old terminal had been damaged due to conflict, and the situation was transformed into an opportunity to realize a better and more beautiful project that could serve future generations.

He also highlighted and praised the virtual court system launched by the Amhara Regional Supreme Court, which uses technology to help ensure access to justice, as an example worth emulating. Alongside these major development projects, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed conveyed two key messages to the people and leadership of the region.

The first was the need to increase the city’s revenue. He noted that despite having all this major infrastructure, Bahir Dar ranks seventh nationally in revenue collection, which limits its capacity even to maintain the projects that have been completed. He therefore urged residents and leaders to give particular attention to improving revenue collection.

His strongest message, however, concerned peace. Referring to a symbolic story about a mother whose one child works hard to bring something home while another destroys what has been brought, the Prime Minister cited the saying, “While the right hand builds, the left hand destroys,” and urged people to use the opportunities they have gained for development.

He emphasized that prioritizing peace is essential to sustaining development and warned that development prospects already underway could be undermined if one side cannot allow the other side to rest and prosper.

Noting that the region is currently governing itself fully, he called on the people to stand together and work toward the development of the city and the region.

The Prime Minister further emphasized that even when disagreements arise, people should develop a culture of resolving them through civility and dialogue before they become prolonged.