Ethiopia’s partnership with Germany pays off
Back in November 2005, a nine-year programme involving Ethiopia and Germany was established with the aim of improving Ethiopia’s competitiveness and promoting employment. It appears that the country’s leather and textile sectors are particularly benefiting from the Engineering Capacity Building Program (ECBP).
The programme is designed to help companies, particularly in the leather and leathergoods, textile, agro-processing and pharmaceutical industries to increase their exports by building more effective partnerships with overseas companies.
German ambassador to Ethiopia, Claas Knoop, recently held talks with a number of Ethiopian government officials to discuss the German government’s role in assisting Ethiopian companies and to look at new ways for the two countries to work together. Dr Knoop reportedly said that he hoped his government would be able to offer more help for small- and medium-sized enterprises and that it would provide training for small leather and textile businesses. He said that the programme had already led to significant increases in the volume and value of leather exports.
