The Ethiopian Home and Office Décor Expo, 2011 was dominated by imported goods it was said. The Expo was organized at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center by the HPP Exhibition Company, Netherlands.
Various furniture companies took part in the exhibition, while products on show were said to be imports from East Asia.
Customers opt for imports because they can’t find what they want locally produced said Meron Hailu General Manager of Dream Furniture. Dream furniture imports furniture from Malaysia where good leather and bamboo products are to be found according to Meron.
Imports, however tend to be more expensive because of considerable tax and transportation fees explained Meron. Dream furniture is looking into a establishing a local manufacturing plant with machinery imported from China she added.Other companies importing various good from different parts of the world also exhibited their products at the Expo. Décor Colonial Furniture exhibited vases, tables and sculptures amongst other things all imported from Indonesia.
Refrigeration units and other appliances made in Germany were exhibited by Beyo Plc. Beyo claims to have reduced the price tag of their products significantly because they do part of their assembly in Ethiopia. It also imports home and office products from different countries like China, Malaysia, South Korea and Turkey.
The four day long exhibition was opened by representatives from the Ministry of Industry and other invited guests. Forty different companies took part exhibiting home and office products locally and internationally made.
Source: Capital
