Although Ethiopian exports for 2009-10 totalled a record $2 billion, its exports fell well below the $2.9 billion target. Experts hope that by working to its strengths and diversifying into new areas, the country can continue to increase exports in the coming years.

Coffee sales were one area where the country excelled in 2009-10, with exports totalling $528 million, according to a Reuters report. However, leathergoods could also have an important part to play. Surprisingly, leather is the only export commodity to have recorded a fall in revenue in recent years. But experts believe that the country can make much more of its well-established leather industry and that this could be one of the ways it is able to achieve its $3 billion export target for 2010-11.

"We earned $56.5 million from leather this year, which was a 25% decrease," trade ministry spokesman, Amakale Yimam, told Reuters. "But that is because we are in a transition phase, trying to move from exporting raw material to finished goods like handbags and shoes."