A Workshop on the formulation of a Strategy for Ethio-International Footwear Cluster Cooperative Society Ltd (EIFCCOS) that was organized and fully sponsored by COMESA/LLPI, took place at the Ethiopian Management Institute, Addis Ababa, from July 10-11, 2014. The formulated Strategy would be used as a tool of transforming EIFCCOS into a first-class Cluster with a broader Regional and International orientation.
This two-day workshop was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Tadesss Haile, State Minister of the Ministry of Industry of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. In his speech, the Honorable Minister reiterated the important role the SMEs were playing in contributing to the industrialization of Ethiopia. He pointed out that EIFCCOS has set a good example by establishing a formalized cluster, which was geared at improving the performance of SMEs. He thus recommended SMEs in other sector to emulate EIFCCOS. The Honorable Minster also expressed his appreciation for COMESA/LLPI for its proactive holistic support to develop the leather sector in Ethiopia and in the COMESA region in general, and also for organizing the Workshop. The Minister finally thanked the EIFCCOS members and the representatives of different institutions for the massive turnout to this event.
Dr Mwinyihija Mwinyikione, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI made an inspiring presentation that covered the importance of leather value chain globally and regionally. He demonstrated the opportunities that are available to EIFCCOS. Additionally he argued that Africa and COMESA are lagging behind despite the potential they hold given their population of livestock.
In order to set the context for Participatory Strategy Formulation, Mr. Wondu Legesse, who is the Director General of the Ethiopian Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI) made a presentation of the status of the Ethiopian Footwear sub-sector. The presentation highlighted the status, opportunities and the challenges the sub-sector was facing. This was followed by Mr Paulos Endashaw, the Chairperson of EIFCCOS presentation who made general remarks about EIFCCOS.
Through the facilitation by Experts from COMESA/LLPI, using a participatory methodology, participants were able to identify and analyze the progress which they made since the formation of EIFCCOS six years ago. The achievements which they identified are as follows:
- Good work place
- Working in team
- Having common management
- Government recognition and support
- Technology transfer
- Strong vision
- Patience
In the second session, the participants identified about 32 challenges, which the cluster was facing through participatory prioritizing system. They were able to come up with top nine that are presented here below in decreasing order of importance.
- EIFCCOS management problem
- Machinery problem
- Working capital
- Market problem
- Access to training
- Not having adequate support from Government
- Raw materials problem
- Lack of trust between cluster members
- Lack of full understanding of the Cluster Concept
On second day of Strategy Planning Session, thorough discussions, on the nine Core Challenges of EIFCCOS business operations, were conducted in Nine Groups, during the break-out sessions of the workshop and were subsequently presented in the meeting. The strategy vision and identification of stake holders to assist in the implementation of the strategy and their responsibilities were also determined as way forward of the EIFCCOS Cluster.
The workshop was concluded after a vote of thanks by one EIFCCOS member and closing remarks by the Executive director of COMESA/LLPI.
