Ethiopian leather industry on course for a better ye - leatherbiz: Lea Leatherbiz

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Ethiopian leather industry on course for a better year

22/02/2018
The leather sector is becoming increasingly important to Ethiopia’s economic and industrial development, according to the director general of the country’s Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI), Wondu Legesse.

In an interview with local media, he said the leather industry has undergone a structural change and has moved from exporting low-value and semi-processed leather to exporting value-added and higher-end products. 

Mr Legesse added that Ethiopia’s large livestock availability, along with the unique qualities of raw material from the country, means there is enormous potential for the leather industry. 

After bringing in just $115.4 million in export earnings during the 2016/17 financial year, far below the government target, the leather industry has made a better start to 2017/18. 

Mr Legesse said leather exports for the first half of the year were worth $69.6 million, 20% higher than for the same period of last year. China, Italy and Hong Kong were the three most prominent destination for Ethiopian leather during this period. 

Mr Legesse also explained that the government’s close engagement with stakeholders in the leather value chain has played a pivotal role in the shift from exporting semi-processed leather to exporting value-added products like shoes, gloves and leathergoods. 

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