Ethiopian Ministry of Industry has fixed a target of US$ 359.3 million for leather and textile exports during 2012, which is a substantial increase over its earnings of US$ 166.3 million during this year.

Melaku Taye, Corporate Communication Director at the Ministry, informed that Ethiopia would be able to raise US$ 206 million from exports of value added leather items next year.

India, Germany, United Kingdom, China, Italy and the US are the key export destinations for Ethiopian leather and textile products, Mr. Melaku said.

He revealed that the Ethiopian Leather & Leather Products Technology Institute (LLPTI) is devising capacity development trainings for the leather and textile units of the country. LLPTI works in association with Indian organizations for facilitating technology transfer and capacity enhancement.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) reiterated that exports of semi-finished leather from the country have been subjected to a 150 percent tax levy from December 2011 onwards to boost export of finished leather and leather items.

According to the Ethiopian Leather Industries Association President Solomon Getu, Ethiopian leather industry has developed the capacity for enabling it to export finished leather items.


Fibre2fashion News Desk - India