Even though the new production facilities of the OK Jamaica Shoes Factory in Addis Ababa had not yet been officially opened, Managing Director Tesfaye Beyene treated Ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud and other visitors from the Norwegian Embassy and Innovation Norway (Innovasjon Norge) to a tour of their new facilities and informed about current and future business expansion, perhaps even in Norway.
Improved quality, increased quantity
The Ethiopian shoes producer with family traditions has upgraded production by introducing a high degree of mechanisation, investing in a new factory. This has added quality of products lead to increased maximum daily production from 100-120 pairs to 600-800. MD Beyene emphasises that expanding production is easy now, as more qualified workers can be added to the ranks of the current 97 staff.
Important domestic market, further export expansion ahead
Shoes from OK Jamaica are popular in Ethiopia, where they are sold in four stores in Addis Ababa and more than 40 outlets nationwide. Abroad, the company is rapidly adding new countries to its list of export markets, benefiting from their new location close to the airport and good deals with the national airline. Formal men’s shoes from the Ethiopian factory are currently to be found in stores in Canada, Kenya and Tanzania, while new models of women’s shoes are soon to be found in Djibouti. Special World Cup models with national colours will soon be featured in South Africa (see picture gallery above) and the company is exploring new markets in Europe and Africa. Ambassador Kjemprud, who is very happy with the several pairs of OK Jamaica formal shoes he regularly uses, is certain a market is to be found in Norway.
Local and imported input
Ethiopia is an important producer of livestock and OK Jamaica is sourcing leather inputs from local producers. Other inputs are imported but MD Beyene, a second-generation shoemaker, notes that local production of some of these inputs can become profitable as the shoe factory expands production. Presently producing 12 shoe models designed in Italy, his company will soon add to their assets by establishing a designing office in their new building.
Read more on the website of OK Jamaica Shoes