A. GENERAL INFORMATION
Now that you have arrived in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, knowing a
few general facts about the country and the conference venue may help facilitate your work
and make your stay more enjoyable.
Land
Ethiopia has an area of 1,112,000 square kilometers. It has an
elevated central plateau that varies in height from 2,000 and 3,000 meters. Addis Ababa is
situated at an altitude of 2,400 meters. Agriculture is the backbone of the national
economy, and the principal exports from this sector include coffee, oil seeds, pulses,
flowers, vegetables, sugar and animal feed. About 90% of the population earns its living
from the land. There is also a thriving livestock sector, and exports include cattle and
hides and skins.
The population of Ethiopia is estimated at 55 million, and over
50% of the population are under 20 years of age. The average number of inhabitants per
square kilometer is 49 persons. Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic state with a great variety of
spoken languages. There are eighty three languages with 200 dialects, and the three main
languages are Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrigna. English, French, Italian and Arabic are
also spoken, mainly in Addis Ababa.
Climate
Ethiopia has two main seasons: the dry season lasts from October
through May, and the rainy season starts in June and ends in September. Temperatures
depend on season and altitude. Addis Ababa enjoys a temperate climate because of its high
altitude 2,500 meters (7,600 feet) above sea level. In November the weather is usually dry
and cool with daily highs averaging 23 degrees centigrade while daily lows can fall to 6
degrees centigrade.
Customs
If you are carrying a laptop computer or other electronic
equipment with you, Customs will register it in your passport on arrival. This is a simple
procedure. Upon departure, Customs will check to see that you are leaving the country with
the same equipment that was registered in your passport.
Visitors may export souvenirs with a value not exceeding E. Birr
500, although some articles (such as animal skins and antiques) require an export permit.
Airport tax
The airport tax on departure from Bole International Airport is
US$20.00 and is payable in US$ cash.
Health and safety precautions
Addis Ababa is generally a safe city. However, the same
precautions should be followed as in any other large city. If you are walking alone, you
may be approached by small children or teenagers, whose aim is to receive some kind of tip
from you. Some of them turn out to be good guides. However, it is best to be cautious when
groups of young people try to bump into you—this is a common tactic used by
pickpockets.
For visitors, it is better to drink bottled water
("Ambo" , "Bure" and "Royal Crown" are the local brands, and
imported bottled water is available in most hotels, restaurants and at groceries) than the
local water. Soft drinks are readily available as well as several brands of local beer
("Bedele", "Bati", "Castele" and "Meta" are
currently the favorites).
Prior to entry, visitors to Ethiopia should be in possession of a
valid health certificate for yellow fever. Vaccination against cholera is also required
for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior
to arrival in Ethiopia. Proof of immunization will be requested at the airport upon
arrival
Currency/Banks
All foreign currency in your possession should be declared on the
blue currency declaration form upon arrival at Bole International Airport. There is no
limit on how much you can bring into the country.
Ethiopian currency is denominated in "Birr" and
"Centimes". Currency notes are printed in denomination of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100
Birrs. The bank rate of exchange varies. The official exchange rates as of 20 October 1999
was US$ = 8.12 Birr. Exchange rates at hotels for traveller’s cheques are lower than
Bank rates.
There is a branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in the ECA
Rotunda Building. This Bank is open Monday-Friday, from 8.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.; and on
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is also an authorized exchange center (Forex) at the
Hilton Hotel. All major hotels are authorized foreign exchange centers. Exchange rates at
hotels for travellers cheques are lower than bank rates.
Currency changed into Birr at the Commercial Bank can be
reconverted into US$ at the Airport Bank upon departure, upon presentation of the blue
currency declaration forms and the exchange receipts. You may not reconvert more money
than you changed at the Bank. If you are departing on a late evening flight, it is best
not to rely on the Airport Bank being open.
Credit cards
Credit cards (Visa and America Express) are accepted on a limited
basis. They are accepted in some restaurants and hotels (such as Sheraton, Hilton, Ghion
and Axum).
Electric supply
Ethiopia generally uses 220 volts 50 cycles AC.
Time
Ethiopia is three hours ahead of GMT.
B. CONFERENCE INFORMATION:
Venue
The venue for the Sixth African Regional
Conference is the ECA United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), the newest building in the
United Nations compound. The building was completed in 1996 and was inaugurated at the 40th
Anniversary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) The design combines elegance with
the latest technology. Here delegates will find everything under one roof.
An exhibition will be staged on the ground floor, which also
houses the medical clinic and an exit linking the ECA New building to UNCC. The Conference
will take place on the first floor. For the convenience of delegates, reception areas and
lounges in the Conference Centre provide closed-circuit coverage of proceedings in all
conference halls. In business centre, delegates can access email and Internet.
Information Desks
Five information desks are located in the compound of ECA to
assist in the orientation of participants with various services in ECA. The main
information desk is found on the ground floor of the UNCC while three other information
sites are established on the first floor. One additional information desk is also placed
in the Rotunda to direct delegates coming on foot by the main gate to the ECA.
Information desks have also been established on the entrance of
Sheraton Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Ghion Hotel, Ethiopian Hotel and Wabe Shebelle Hotel.
Registration and identification of badges
Conference registration begins on Thursday, November 18. At
registration in the United Nations Conference Centre, you will receive the conference
documentation and your badge. For security and safety reasons, all participants are
advised to wear their badges at all times during the conference and at official social
functions.
Hotel arrangements
The ECA has made Block bookings for Conference participants
for the duration of the Conference. However participants can make their own arrangements
on arrival, in case of need.
Transportation
During each day of the Conference, buses will be available at
08:15 to take delegates from hotels to the Conference centre. Buses return as soon as the
day’s last session is over. There is no transportation for lunch breaks.
Delegates may book taxis from National Tourism Organization (NTO)
by calling 51-82-11 or 51-84-00 through the Hilton hotel switchboard. Yellow or blue taxis
parked outside the ECA complex and major hotels will take you almost anywhere in the City.
The charge is Birr 15 to 20 (US 2.00 to US2.50) for a single passenger. Group rates or
longer trips are negotiable. Always agree on a fare before setting out.
Restaurants/Refreshments
The conference will provide light refreshments at times indicated
on the conference program. Breakfast, lunch and snack facilities are available in the ECA
Conference Centre. However, participants might want to dine out on their own. Ethiopian
food is characterized by injera, a spongy fermented bread used to scoop up a meat or
vegetable stew (wot) spiced with peppers of varying degrees of fire power. Diners might
also try continental cooking at the restaurants listed below, most of which also offer
local culinary imprint in the form of Pizzerias, pastry shops, and cafes serving excellent
espresso. Some hotels have special "Ethiopia Nights" with traditional dance
shows.
Beijing Restaurant; near the Stadium, tel. 51 56 73, serves
Chinese dish.
Blue Tops, Amist Kilo, Tel. 55 09 34. Italian and Continental
cuisine served in an attractive décor incorporating indigenous materials. Reservations
are recommended.
Catelli Carlo, Piazza, tel. 71 20 10, Serves Italian Dish.
China Bar and Restaurant, Near the main entrance to Ghion hotel,
Tel. 513772, Serves Chinese dish.
Cottage restaurant, Ras Desta Damtew street, tel. 51-63-59. Swiss
and other international cuisine presented in a pleasant villa setting with an inviting pub
located in the rear
Le Jardin Bistro, behind the main post office. Tel. 55-31-72.
Recommended for Pizza pasta.
Le petit Paris, old Airport Road, Tel. 20-44-80. First-class
French cuisine.
Sangam Restaurant. Located on the Bole road. Tel. 51 42 76.
Serves Indian Dish and European Dish.
Taj Tandoori, off Bole Road, opposite UNHCR Regional Office.
Indian cuisine.
C. RESOURCES
AVAILABLE AT THE ECA:
Departure and Airlines reservations
A number of international airlines operate regular services to
and from Addis Ababa. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that participants secure
their return/onward air passage 72 hours prior to their departure from Addis Ababa. There
will be a travel desk in the UNCC-AA manned by the Express Travel Group to reconfirm your
tickets and to provide all travel/tour-related information to delegates.
Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have offices in the ECA
Rotunda, if you prefer to reconfirm your tickets yourself. Please bring your tickets with
you. Delegates may also book optional sightseeing tours and post conference tours at the
travel desk
Post Office
There is a full service post office located at the entrance to
the Rotunda section of the ECA compound. It is open week days from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and
then from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Telephone/Fax
Telephone service in Addis Ababa is generally quite good. Pay
phones on the street or at the airport require two ten centime coins.
The Ethiopian Telecommunications Authority maintains an office in
the Rotunda of ECA compound, where you can make international telephone calls and send
faxes and telexes.
Bookstores
There is a bookstore in the ECA Rotunda. There are others at the
Hilton and Sheraton Hotels, which also sell current newspapers and magazines from many
countries.
Duty-free shop
Your badge to the conference will entitle you to make duty-free
purchases (including cigarettes) at the duty-free shop located in the Rotunda of the ECA
building. The same facility is available in the Hilton and Ghion hotels. Purchases must be
made in convertible currency, preferably in cash in US$ or in travellers' cheques.
Medical facilities
The ECA clinic, located in the UNCC Building, is available to all
conference participants.
In case of a medical or dental emergency, please contact the
following:
Dr. Dominic Rouvroy
Chief Medical Director of the UN Health Services
Telephone: 515828 or 517200 x 88888
ECA ambulance
Telephone: 514202 or 515828.
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