ADDIS ABABA – The Puagmae Festival is set to celebrate its seventh annual event with a vibrant array of activities aimed at strengthening cultural bonds and promoting economic development.
Puagmae Festival General Manager Haileab Meresa told the media that preparations are complete for a colorful celebration that will serve as both a farewell to the old year and a warm welcome to the New Year.
This year’s festival, which has grown into a significant cultural event, will offer various activities designed to foster unity, including programs promoting peace and love, exhibitions, panel discussions, and a showcase of traditional Ethiopian-African fashion. Attendees can also look forward to tasting traditional foods and drinks, participating in a “run in the rain,” engaging in business-to-business linkages, and discussing ways to preserve natural beauty. Additionally, the festival will feature a beauty pageant and other cultural displays.
To facilitate international participation, the festival has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines to offer convenient ticket packages for international guests. The festival’s growing importance is underscored by the involvement of new partners and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Tourism Board, which recognizes the festival as a continent-wide event. This agreement is expected to enhance trade and strengthen regional ties by ensuring the participation of African delegations.
The Addis Ababa Administration Public Recreational Areas Corporation Deputy Head Mezgebu Yigzaw emphasized that the festival would also serve to promote public recreational areas to local and international tourists, showcasing Ethiopia’s cultural values, natural attractions, and investment opportunities. The event aims to strengthen national and continental solidarity by fostering unity among attendees.
By hosting this continental cultural festival, the Puagmae Festival aims to enhance economic benefits and solidify cultural and economic connections across Africa, reflecting its growing impact on both cultural and economic development.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2024
