Ethiopia: institute says tanners should import more raw material
01/02/2011
Recent LIDI reports have suggested that the shortage of hides and skins could prevent the leather industry in Ethiopia from achieving a government-set target of generating $500 million in revenue in the next five years. The institute estimates that Ethiopia’s tanneries have a total processing capacity of 50 million hides and skins a year, but are only receiving 14 million a year at the moment.
LIDI’s director, Wondu Legesse has commented: “This is why we are now advising tanneries to consider importing raw skins and hides from abroad and urging the government to make the importing procedures easy.” He said customs clearing and storage system needs to be improved and become fast and efficient to protect the skins and hides from being damaged. However, Ethiopia is land-locked and, because of tensions in this part of Africa, is mostly restricted to bringing goods into the country through the port of neighbouring Djibouti.
According to LIDI, uncollected skins from regions of the Ethiopia such as Afar, Gambella Benishangul, Harar Diredawa and Somali are among the causes for the raw materials shortage. Mr Wondu also mentioned unused material such as camel hides and illegal trading of cattle to other countries as issues making the situation even more difficult.
Share this story:
