Ethiopian products were dominate at the second ISE Construction and Housing Exhibition held from the 12th-16th of January in Ethiopia. Fifty local and international exhibitors were represented at the exhibition.

It took two months to organize the exhibition which aimed to correct mistakes made in the first one and to include a wide range of industries with a majority of participants being from the construction industry explained Mekdela Mekuria, Marketing and Outreach Executive at Lexicon Promotion Service plc.

The exhibition was an opportunity for those in the construction industry to network and discover new products according to Tewedros Fantahun from Adeb Engineering.

The local products and construction skills were impressive although differences in quality with imports are still visible said Tewedros.

Ethiopian construction companies that used to import materials are increasingly opting to use local products according to Demis Beyene Marketing Head with Art Metal and Wrought Iron Works.

Reliance on imported raw materials is a challenge that faces companies attempting to meet local demand said Kassa Assefa, senior market expert at Kaliti Metal Products Factory.

The exhibition can play a role in the national agenda to enhance import substitution according to Desalegn Ambaw, State Minister of Urban Construction and Development.

Source: Capital