Chinese Footwear Company to Begin Operations in Ethiopia

Chinese footwear company, Hujuan, is to begin operations in Ethiopia. Hujuan commenced investment activities in Ethiopia two months ago and is in the final stages of constructing a factory in Dukem. The factory is expected to produce 3000 pairs of shoes daily for export.

Hujan anticipates that production will begin in its Ethiopian factory early in the New Year according to Berhanu Nigus, Head of Quality Testing and Certification Services at the Leather Industry Development Institute.

The institute was involved in selecting 100 Ethiopian leather professional who traveled to China for training by Hujan said Berhanu.

It is expected that the Chinese company will help develop the export of footwear from Ethiopia he said.

New Wing, another Chinese company, is also expected to invest in the Ethiopian leather sector said Berhanu. The new investor has a significant international presence that will further enhance Ethiopia’s finished leather industry he added.

It is to be remembered that Ethiopia prohibited the export of crust last month. The new ban was targeted to further strengthen the export of finished leather towards securing a more significant share of the global leather market explained Berhanu.

Investment in the finished leather products sector was limited in the past but the ban on crust exports has led to more interest in the sector he noted.

The changes are not yet expected to be significant however as this is a period of transition explain experts at the LIDI.

Source: Capital