Leather Companies Receive Design Support in Hopes of Exhibiting Internationally in 2022

The Ethiopia Industrial Promotion Project (Export Promotion) (Phase 2) aims to increase the export revenue of leather products; to improve the quality, the project is providing technical support to leather manufacturing factories in Ethiopia. In May of 2021, seven Ethiopian companies that produce shoes, bags and gloves were selected as partner companies based on the particularly high quality of their samples. In August, Japanese experts began visiting companies to provide technical support for product design and quality using the characteristics of Ethiopian Highland Leather. In mid-August, experts also visited the factories of 13 applicant companies that were nominated for the second round selection.

In the second round selection, the screening points were (1) production environment and equipment, (2) product quality, and (3) corporate vision, human resources, and planning ability, and the decision was made comprehensively. As a result, four companies (shoe 1, bag 2, and garment 1) were selected as new partner companies. This brings the total number of partner companies supported by this project to 11.

After the 2nd selection, the project asked the four additional companies to prepare design drawings, and Japanese experts have restarted providing technical support together with the original seven partner companies. All companies are making samples with their own individuality, and they are near to the level of acceptance in foreign markets. With the aim of exhibiting in Europe and the U.S. in January-February of next year, they will continue to make improvements with the advice of experts.

On the other hand, our experts are also providing advice on how to improve the working environment of employees for the companies that have not fulfilled those requirements. This is in addition to the technical advice that they are receiving to improve their product development.

Source: JICA Ethiopia