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Addis Ababa, Nov. 23, 2016 (Xinhua/NAN) Italy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to advance leather sector development in Ethiopia.
Part of the agreement was a 2.8-million-Euro financial support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation to assist UNIDO’s initiative.
The agreement was dubbed; “Technical Assistance Project for the Up-Grading of Ethiopian Leather and Leather Products Industry Phase 2’’.
Giuseppe Mistretta, the Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, signed on behalf of Italy while UNIDO Representative Jean Bakole signed for the organisation in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia
Tadesse Haile, the State Minister for Industry of Ethiopia signed for his country.
Mistretta said the support was designed to create conducive environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Ethiopia’s leather products sector.
Ethiopian Minister noted that MSME development was considered as one of the most important pillar of the second five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II /2016-2020).
UNIDO representative said the technical assistance project was targeted to build local capacity, facilitate access to loans and linkage with financial institutions.
Bakole said the project was also aimed at creating new cluster areas for MSME development in Ethiopia’s leather production sector.
He said with 52 million heads of cattle, Ethiopia is the number one in Africa and sixth in the world in cattle population. (Xinhua/NAN)
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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Ese E. Ekama