The Italian tannery and footwear machinery makers association, Assomac also presented a small pavilion at the show as did the German region of RheinlandPlatz which is the centre of the German footwear industry.
Exhibitors and visitors were welcomed by the show organisers, the Ethiopian Leather Industry Association (ELIA), general secretary, Abdissa Adugna and ELIA chairman, Yigsaw Assefa who outlined the continuous growth of the Ethiopian tanning, footwear and leathergoods sectors.
The show is the largest since the AALF began in 2008 and was well attended on the first day. ‘Even though the global economy has been affected by the global recession, the Ethiopian leather industry has still managed to compete on the world stage and add value to the abundant local raw material’, Assefa told visitors and exhibitors during his opening address.
The show is due to continue to take place in the spacious and modern Millennium hall on January 21 and 22.
