ADDIS ABABA, Jan 21 (NNN-ENA) — The third All-African Leather Fair (AALF) has opened at the Millennium Hall here with 196 companies taking part.

Trade and Industry Minister Girma Birru said when the fair on Wednesday that the Ethiopian government was offering support to industries which exported finished leather products as well as providing training to exporters and sharing in the cost of hiring experts from aboard.

He said the Ethiopian Development Bank was also offering loans to exporters at low interest rate.

Local companies had become outstanding in the competition to manufacture quality products, he said, adding that the achievements were gained with the support of the government.

Girma also lauded th participation of local youth engaged in micro and small-scale enterprises in the fair.

Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA) Chairman Yigzaw Assefa said that hosting the fair would help Ethiopia create a market network and facilitate technology transfer.

A total of 137 local and 59 foreign companies from Germany, Italy, Egypt, Sudan and India are taking part in the fair. The local companies are exporting shoes to Europe, the United States and some African countries.

Following recent structural reform of Ethiopia’s leather industry, local companies had started exporting quality products.

More than 10,000 people are expected to visit the three-day fair organized by ELIA.
According to ELIA, Ethiopia will also host the 4th AALF in January next year. — NNN-ENA

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