ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia has become the new investment hub and market destination particularly in Africa and across the world in general. The country enjoys a modernized massive real estate, hotel, commercial, residential, industrial zone, and conference center and tourism project construction development project. This creates a huge demand in furniture, finishing material solutions, products and technologies.
By considering these facts, Prana Events and shak-crux trade and management event PLC is organizing the premium furniture , interior and finishing materials expo to be held from 2nd – 4th May 2019, at millennium hall, Addis Ababa.
Leul Haile Researcher and Developer at Wood and Related products Chemical and Construction Inputs Industry Development Institute said that, the expo aims to add the new pulse to the sector development through gathering policy makers, key industry leaders and decision makers under one roof to open new horizon of business opportunities in the vast domestic market.
Apart from the expo there will be a panel discussion on the sector challenges and opportunities as well as interactive workshops on new products and unique production systems for our market.
Tihitina Legese, Secretary at Ethiopian Manufacturer Association said that, event is dedicated for the entire furniture and finishing material industries. Household, office and industrial furniture’s as well as home décor such as lighting curtails and decorative accessories together with furnishing solutions have been given much attention.
Over 50 top quality exhibitors from seven countries are ready to discuss business with more than five thousand trade visitors from all over Ethiopia. The exhibitors come from China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Kenya and Pakistan, it was learnt.
Tihitina, stated that, Ethiopia is one of the ancient countries which introduce furniture to the rest of the world. However the study by the Chemical and Construction Inputs Industry Development Institute shows that Ethiopia’s government spending for the furniture products procurement has surpassed ETB 10 billion in 2018. Out of this only 20 percent which is ETB 2 billion are secured from the local producers.
A research conducted by the World Bank also shows that most of the items used locally are imported despite the country’s vast wood resources. It also stated that, there is a gap in the country’s wood supply chain deeming it unreliable, unsustainable and poorly organized.
The Ethiopian Herald April 14 2019
BY HAILE DEMEKE
