Third All African Leather Fair

During the three day event held last week, 196 Exhibitors from 46 countries showed of their best collections and an estimated 10000 visitors attended. The Embassy also attended the opening of the fair by Girma Birru, the Minister for Trade and Industry.
 
Ethiopia has the largest collection of livestock in Africa and fifth largest in the world. The potential of the leather industry is therefore enormous and in many ways untapped. In order to encourage the export of finished leather products, the government introduced a 150% duty on the export of raw hides and skins in 2008. The result is clearly visible as the number of business engaged in leather production, mainly footwear, has increased in the past few years.
 
One of the challenges that producers in this industry face is the large costs associated with the import of shoe soles and other essential material from Europe and Asia. During the UNIDO Leather and Leather Products Industry Panel, also held in Addis Ababa during the fair, the secretary general of ELIA informed that there has been a great interest from international suppliers of input and accessories to start production in Ethiopia.
 
The event ended on a high note with the organizers announcing that important contacts had been made during the fair and agreements between local and international companies had been entered into.