Amleset with Martha Goytom

The Student Shoes and Bags Project was launched in 2013 to support the development of the leather industry. 

The project is designed to provide regional students with shoes and bags produced by small and medium-sized leather industries owned by local investors. 

On the one hand, it aims to create a market opportunity for local leather factories, and on the other hand, it aims to provide students with the shoes and bags they need, just like regular clothes. 

It was also launched with the aim of getting young people to practice using local products. 

Initially, Addis Ababa City Administration, and later Oromia, Sidama and Harare regions showed interest in the products, and it was decided to make the project national. 

The project was announced in 2013 and extensive promotional work was done, said Ato Zulfiqar Abajhad, Manager of the Leather Industry Research and Development Center, who recalled that shoes were purchased and provided to some students with government budget. 

Zulfiqar, who recalls that after students have widely practiced using local products, there was a plan to make parents take over the responsibility of purchasing the products, and they also told us that some work has been done.

However, the regions have not been as we expected in preparing the legal framework for the project, ensuring that the community takes over the work, and allocating the appropriate budget, said Zulfiqar.

It was noted that the fact that leather goods factories are mostly located in Addis Ababa and its surroundings is another challenge in the implementation of the project.

We have understood that it is a priority to have the factories in all areas before implementing the project, said Zulfiqar.

It is said that support from development partners is also being worked on to expand leather goods factories.

Currently, data shows that 2.4 million shoes are being produced in Ethiopia annually.

It has been estimated that 30 million pairs of shoes would be needed to provide all students with shoes even once a year.

If one student were to buy shoes twice a year, it is estimated that 60 million pairs of shoes would need to be produced.

It has been noted that the number of existing leather factories would need to be increased tenfold to produce 60 million pairs of shoes.