Trade and Industry Minister Girma Birru on the occasion said the government is offering support to industries, which export finished leather products.

He said the government is providing training to exporters and shares cost for experts from aboard.

He said Ethiopian Development Bank is offering loan to exporters with low interest rate.

Local companies have become outstanding in the competition to manufacture quality products, he said, adding, the achievements were gained with the support of the government.

He said the government has objectives aimed at building images of the country, assessing market access, among others, to organize the fair.

Girma lauded the participation of local youth engaged in micro and small-scale enterprises in the fair.

The Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA) Board Chairperson Yigzaw Assefa on his part said hosting the fair would help create market network and technology transfer.

Some 137 local and 59 foreign companies from Germany, Italy, Egypt, Sudan and India are taking part in the event.

The number of companies has been increasing year to year.

Local companies are exporting shoes to Europe, the United States and some African countries; he said and added that following the structural reform in the leather industry companies have started exporting quality products.

Over 25 companies from the USA, Europe and Asia are displaying their products at the group pavilions established by UNIDO while six African countries at COMESA-LLPI pavilion.

More than 10,000 people are expected to visit the three-day fair organized by ELIA.