Ethiopia becomes center for African leather market

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced that the government makes all efforts towards making Ethiopia center of African leather market. The All Africa Leather Fair 2008 was opened in Addis Ababa on August 1 2008.

More than 170 local and foreign companies are taking part in the fair that would last open for three days.

Opening the fair that is organized for the first time in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Melse Zenawi said the government will provide all the necessary assistance with a view to enhancing competitiveness of the leather sector in the international market.

The leather and leather products industry is among the sectors the country has attached prime attention in the export trade, he said.

The sector has been showing a remarkable development as of the past few years, Meles said and attributed the result registered in the sector to the favorable policies and strategies designed by the government to engage investors in the sector.

One third of the worlds animal production is found in Africa, he said and added that the Fair would enable share experience to properly utilize the resource thereby increasing the income the continent secures form the sector.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Girma Birru in his part said that the leather and leather products Ethiopia exports have been increasing every year.

The capacity building and material support provided by the government to investors in the sector has contributed a lot to secure improved income by exporting processed and semi-processed leather products.

He said efforts are being made to make 60 percent of the leather products the country exports processed leather products as of the past two years.

The income secured from the leather and leather products exported over the past six months exceeds that of same period last year by 29 percent.

The Minister said that the government would provide the necessary support to enable leather factories export processed products.

The fair is expected to increase Ethiopias share that is less than one percent in the international leather market, which is 92 billion Birr.

Board Chairman of the Ethiopian Leather Industry Association, Yigzaw Asefa said that the main aim of the Fair is to expand the African leather industry market.

An international seminar that would enable investors in the sector share experience is organized.

More than 3,000 people are expected to visit the Fair organized by the association.