Ethiopia earned US$44 million from the export of leather and leather products in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the Ethiopian Leather Industry Development Institute said. 

Institute Corporate Communication Directorate Director, Berhanu Sirjabo, told Walta Information Center, the amount was earned from the export of finished leather, footwear, leather gloves and other leather products.

The revenue earned during the reported period exceeds the US$38.5 million earned a year earlier, he said.

Berhanu attributed the increase in revenue to the priority given to the export of value-added products.

Ethiopia has targeted to earn US$ 500 million for the leather industry in this budget year.

Source: Walta Information Center