The Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA) in collaboration with COMESA - Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI) organized a one day workshop to formulate ELIA's Strategy on 21st July 2016 at Monarch Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Participants were drawn from different public and private sectors of the leather and allied industries.
The Workshop was officially opened by Mr. Wondu Legesse, Director General of Ethiopia Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI). Mr. Wondu, in his remark, stressed that the Association should strengthen itself to address the challenges of its members. In East Asian countries, Associations are strong enough to mobilize resources and achieve national economic objectives, he added; and ELIA should bench mark such associations to develop the Ethiopia leather sector.
Prof. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, made a climate setting remark iterating the importance of the leather sector for the development of the country in terms of employment and wealth creation.
Participants thoroughly discussed in groups the challenges of the Ethiopian leather sector in general and ELIA in particular. The workshop gave due attention about the importance of the All African Leather Fair (AALF) which actually has very good impact on the leather sector in terms of creating market linkages and experience sharing.
In general, the Workshop had given an opportunity to identify the major challenges and possible intervention areas regarding the leather sector in Ethiopia and the Association it self.