Italy-financed leather institute to be constructed in Ethiopia
The valuable role to be played by the leather trade in developing employment opportunities in Africa has been highlighted with the signing of a $7.5 million contract for a new leather institute in Ethiopia.
Sponsored by Italian Government under its 'Ethio-Italian Programme Aid' plan, the 'Leather and Leather Products Technology Institute' (LLPTI) will provide comprehensive training facilities in the fields of tanning, leather goods and footwear production. A lack of skilled manpower has long been identified as a major stumbling block to new investment in the leather sector by the Ethiopian government, preventing the potential for economic growth that the industry has to offer from being realised. The new institute is thus expected to play a vital role in the government's strategy to create wealth and employment opportunities through the creation of small to medium sized enterprises.
To be constructed by a joint venture of Italian companies, the institute will be equipped everything that is required to produce leather and leather goods, including a tannery and attendant effluent treatment plant, as well as separate leather goods and footwear production facilities. The Italian partners will also provide all books for the centre’s library, vehicles, chemicals and other ancillaries.
