On September 22 and 23, 2015, EiABC hosted the first international workshop on emerging towns of Ethiopia. The workshop was organised in collaboration with ARES cooperation au development and Universities from Belgium. Its main objective was to shed some light on the on-going efforts by the government of Ethiopia while investigating the potential and challenges of hundreds of new emerging towns in the nation, with a special focus on the case of Amdework town.

In his opening speech, Mr Joachim Dieter, the Scientific director of EiABC, highlighted that the workshop is a manifestation of one of the key Strategies of the institute which is to raise quality in teaching and research through international cooperation. He added, it is of the highest interest of the institute that this well established cooperation and joint research with ARES CUD and all involved Belgium Universities stays vibrant, especially for the benefit of current and future PHD candidates.

The workshop was attended by Miss Eloise DE KEYSER representing the Ambassador of the Belgium Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ato Mehari Amare, Mayor of Sekota town, representatives of Ministries, city governments , Urban planning offices, municipalities, academicians, PhD and MSc students, researchers and experts.