Key Takeaways
- More than 250 exhibitors joined the African Sourcing and Fashion Week in Addis Ababa.
- The four-day exhibition opened on 12 November at the Addis International Convention Center.
- Organisers expected over 6,000 trade visitors and buyers from more than 70 countries.
- The Industry Ministry seeks investment across cotton processing, fabric production, finishing and garment manufacturing.
- Footwear and finished leather goods are priorities for adding value to Ethiopian hides and skins.
- The planned Mojo Leather City Industrial Park aims to attract manufacturers and technology providers.
- The Industrial Parks Development Corporation says its 14 zones have attracted over 300 investors.
Market Impact
Manufacturers seeking Ethiopian suppliers can meet producers at several stages, from cotton through finished garments. The ministry identified product quality and compliance with international standards as conditions for winning export business.
The industrial parks corporation offers factory space and shared infrastructure. Its chief executive identified factory visits, partnerships and orders as measures of the exhibition’s commercial results.
Key Numbers
- 250-plus exhibitors — suppliers and other participants at the event
- 6,000-plus visitors and buyers — organisers’ forecast for attendance
- 14 zones — industrial parks corporation’s established network
Business Signal
For exporters, the commercial test is whether buyer meetings lead to factory visits and orders.
AI-generated editorial illustration.