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Lion Building, 6th floor, Ras Mekonen St., Meskel Square
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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+251 115 156 144+251 911 635 644

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info@eliaet.com

Invest and source in Ethiopia.

A brown leather messenger bag with brass buckles, made in Ethiopia

Your entry point to Ethiopia’s leather manufacturers.

Buyer Inquiry Investor Inquiry

02 Why Ethiopia

Why Ethiopia.

Seven reasons buyers and investors look to Ethiopia for leather.

  1. Raw Material Base

    The largest livestock population in Africa and highland hides and skins preferred by international buyers.

  2. Premium Material

    Ethiopian Highland Leather, a registered national brand of high-quality sheepskin.

  3. Competitive Costs

    A large, young and trainable workforce and competitive energy costs.

  4. Incentives

    Income tax holidays and duty-free import of capital goods for priority sectors, including leather.

  5. Industrial Infrastructure

    Industrial parks and the planned Modjo Leather City with shared waste treatment.

  6. Market Access

    AfCFTA membership and logistics links through Ethiopian Airlines and the Addis Ababa to Djibouti railway.

  7. Policy Support

    Government measures to keep raw hides in the country for local value addition.

Leather shoes laid on hides of wet-blue, black and tan leather

Made in Ethiopia.

ELIA Sourcing N° 01

Finished leather, shoes, bags and garments, from the makers who tan the hides.

Fig. 01 Leather shoes laid on hides of wet-blue, black and tan leather

03 For buyers

Source leather and leather products from Ethiopia.

Ethiopian manufacturers supply finished and semi-finished leather, footwear, gloves, bags, garments and accessories to buyers in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.

How ELIA helps buyers

  1. Share Your Requirements

    Tell us the product, quality standard, volume and timeline you need.

  2. Supplier Shortlist

    We identify ELIA members that match your requirements.

  3. Introductions

    We arrange meetings, sample requests and factory visits.

  4. Follow-Up

    We support communication and help resolve issues as the relationship develops.

Products available

Products available from Ethiopian manufacturers
CategoryExamples
Leather Wet-blue, crust and finished leather; sheepskin, goatskin and cowhide
Footwear Casual, formal, safety and military boots, sports shoes
Leather Goods Bags, wallets, belts, gloves, accessories
Garments Jackets and other leather apparel
Upholstery Furniture and automotive leather

Buyer Inquiry Form

A tote bag in chestnut calf leather with two rolled handles, tan piping and brass fittings.

A tote in chestnut calf: rolled handles, tan piping, saddle stitching and brass fittings.

04 For investors

Invest in Ethiopian leather.

Ethiopia’s leather sector offers opportunities across the value chain, from tanning and finishing to footwear, leather goods and by-product processing.

Investment opportunities

  • New or expanded tanneries meeting international environmental standards
  • Footwear and leather goods factories for export and domestic markets
  • Joint ventures with established Ethiopian manufacturers
  • Effluent treatment, chemical supply and machinery services
  • Gelatin and other by-product processing
Buyers and manufacturers in conversation around a low table in a fair's meeting lounge

How ELIA helps investors

  1. Sector Information

    Data on capacity, costs, regulations and incentives.

  2. Partner Search

    Introductions to member companies seeking investment or joint ventures.

  3. Institutional Links

    Connections with the Ministry of Industry, the Ethiopian Investment Commission and industrial park operators.

  4. Site Visits

    Organized visits to factories and industrial parks.

Investor Inquiry Form

05 Ways to work together

Six ways to work with Ethiopian makers.

Ethiopian tanneries and manufacturers work with international partners in several ways. ELIA helps find the right partner for each.

  1. Direct sourcing and private label

    Leather and finished goods made to your specification, under your brand.

  2. Contract manufacturing

    Production runs in Ethiopian factories for your collections.

  3. Joint ventures

    Shared ownership with established Ethiopian manufacturers.

  4. Technology licensing

    Processes, machinery and know-how brought to Ethiopian producers.

  5. Buyer–supplier development

    Programmes that bring a supplier up to a buyer’s standards over time.

  6. Institutional twinning

    Training institutes, laboratories and associations working with their Ethiopian counterparts.

06 Meet Us at AALF 2026

12–15 November 2026: Meet Us at AALF 2026

The All Africa Leather Fair, 12 to 15 November 2026 at the Addis International Convention Center, is the best place to meet Ethiopian manufacturers in one location.

Register as a Visitor (opens www.asfw-addis.com in a new tab) About the fair
The fair's hall seen from the gallery: rows of stands with garments and leather goods

07 Send an inquiry

Tell us what you need.

Buyers Buyer Inquiry Form The product, quality standard, volume and timeline you need. We reply with suitable ELIA members. Open the form Investors Investor Inquiry Form The investment area, its estimated size and your preferred location. We reply with information and introductions. Open the form