Addis Ababa, February 1, 2011 (Addis Ababa) – The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia inaugurated here on Monday its new chancery building on Entoto Road constructed at a cost of 126.7 million US dollars.

The exterior design of the building subtly incorporates stone features from Ethiopian architectural monuments in Axum and Lalibela.

The inauguration was held in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Deputy Director of Overseas Building Operations for the State Department Lydia Muniz (AU Representative).

The official ribbon cutting ceremony marks the end of a two and a half year building project that added approximately 16 million US dollars to the Ethiopian economy and employed in excess of 1,200 Ethiopian workers.

Speaking at the inauguration of the building Hailemariam said the building demonstrates the strong relations of the two countries.

He said the US government is backing the education, health and aviation and many other sectors in Ethiopia.

The new building consolidates in one facility the U.S. Embassy to Ethiopia and the U.S. Mission to the African Union.

The U.S. Embassy to Ethiopia now has all its resident U.S. government agencies under one roof.

Previously, U.S. Government agencies operated in separate buildings and in four different locations around the city of Addis Ababa.

The co-location of these agencies into the new building will enhance daily coordination on various diplomatic and development activities in Ethiopia.

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg on his part said the building, the largest U.S. chancery in Sub-Saharan Africa, employs the latest green technology and architectural features drawing from Ethiopian historical styles.

The building is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility with energy efficient design employed throughout.

Ambassador Donald Booth affirmed that the building “is a symbol of the cooperation and friendship that the United States enjoys with this extraordinary country.”

The new state-of-the-art chancery building will better serve the U.S. Mission in Ethiopia and support the continuation of productive and strong relations with Ethiopia and the African Union in the years to come, he said.