Ethiopia’s once-thriving leather industry is grappling with significant challenges stemming from restrictive and outdated regulations, prompting industry stakeholders to demand urgent policy reforms to unlock the sector’s full economic potential.

At the recently held 2nd COMESA Institutions Awareness Forum in Addis Ababa, leather producers, processors, and industry representatives voiced strong criticism of the existing regulatory framework, particularly the ban on exporting ‘wet blue’ hides and skins-a crucial semi-processed stage in leather production. They argued that this ban inadvertently channels valuable raw materials to Western countries, undermining local manufacturing capacity and stifling growth.

“We have a deeply rooted cultural tradition of utilizing leather from our abundant cattle resources,” an industry expert said. “However, the ban on wet blue exports prevents us from adequately supplying our growing footwear manufacturing sector and generating significant revenue for the national economy.”

The forum emphasized the untapped potential of sourcing high-quality raw materials and intermediate products from neighboring East African countries, urging efforts to raise awareness among local industries to reduce reliance on costly foreign suppliers.

Discussions also highlighted the vital link between a robust livestock sector and a competitive leather industry. Participants expressed concern over the impact of climate change and recurrent droughts on Ethiopia’s cattle farming, questioning the effectiveness of current support mechanisms aimed at improving cattle quality and production.

The leather sector reportedly suffers losses estimated at 138 billion birr due to these intertwined challenges, underscoring the urgent need to address fundamental issues in cattle management nationwide.

Nicholas Mudungwe, Executive Director of the African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), acknowledged these concerns and outlined ongoing collaborative initiatives with the African Union’s Inter-African Phytosanitary Council to enhance livestock quality through improved practices and branding.

Mudungwe also stressed the importance of environmental sustainability, advocating for the establishment of centralized industrial parks with common sewage treatment facilities to promote resource efficiency and reduce pollution in leather processing. He highlighted the necessity for Ethiopian tanneries to obtain Leather Working Group (LWG) certification to access international markets and partner with global designers.

While Ethiopia’s export ban on semi-processed leather is a key point of contention, similar restrictions have been implemented in countries like Turkey and Egypt, reflecting a broader regional trend.

As Ethiopia’s leather industry stands at a crossroads, stakeholders are united in calling for comprehensive reforms to regulatory policies, enhanced regional cooperation, and sustainable livestock management to revitalize this critical economic sector.

Ethiopia observed World Press Freedom Day 2025 with a vibrant multi-sector dialogue on May 16 at Elilly International Hotel, spotlighting the theme “Ethiopian Media in the Age of AI: Promoting Media Freedom, Ethics, and Safety.” The event brought together media professionals, regulatory authorities, human rights advocates, development partners, and journalism educators to discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the country’s media landscape.

The celebration opened with a powerful performance by the Mankira Dance Group, symbolizing freedom and resilience. Ferew Abebe, Chairman of the Editors’ Guild of Ethiopia (EGE), set the tone with opening remarks, followed by keynote speeches from U.S. Ambassador Ervin Massinga, Swedish Ambassador Hans Henric Lundquist, Ethiopian Media Authority Deputy Director General Yonatan Tesfaye, and Ethiopian Human Rights Commission Deputy Chief Commissioner Rakeb Messele. All speakers emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration to safeguard press freedom in Ethiopia.

Two dynamic panel discussions addressed critical issues such as democratic resilience, journalist safety, ethical AI use in journalism, and gender representation in digital media. Expert panelists offered practical recommendations to foster a safer, more inclusive, and technologically adaptive media environment.

Organized by the EGE in partnership with Mersa Media Institute and the Consortium for the Safety of Journalists in Ethiopia, the event provided a platform for dialogue, learning, and networking. Closing reflections highlighted the urgent need for sustained collective action to empower journalists, uphold ethical standards, and ensure media safety in Ethiopia’s rapidly changing digital era.

The Ethiopian Pulses Oilseed Exporters Association (EPOSEA) has officially launched a transformative three-year project aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s pulses and oilseed export sector, backed by a $312,000 grant from the African Green Revolution Alliance (AGRA). The initiative seeks to address persistent challenges in export systems by fostering deeper collaboration between the private sector and public institutions.

The project, titled “Enhancing Ethiopia’s pulses and oilseed export trade by enhancing private sector capacity for collaborative engagement with public institutions,” will focus on bridging gaps in value chains, expanding international market access, and improving farmer incomes4. EPOSEA aims to achieve this by integrating stakeholders across the sector and establishing a specialized market intelligence unit to provide exporters with actionable insights on global trends and consumer preferences.

A key component involves the creation of a Policy Support Committee to identify and address regulatory barriers through constructive dialogue with government agencies. The project will also promote public-private partnerships by facilitating international trade delegations and exhibitions, allowing Ethiopian exporters to connect with global buyers and showcase high-quality agricultural products.

Ethiopia’s pulses and oilseeds exports have been booming, generating over $675 million last year and playing a vital role in the country’s economy. The new AGRA-supported initiative is expected to further boost export volumes, enhance sector competitiveness, and support sustainable growth for Ethiopian farmers and exporters.

Ethiopia is modernizing its transport and logistics sectors with three new digital solutions unveiled by Ethio Telecom and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. The innovations include a cross-country public transport service system, an integrated fuel delivery payment platform, and a national traffic penalty management system.

The public transport system allows travelers to book and pay for trips via mobile phones in multiple local languages, including through Telebirr, eliminating long queues and manual ticketing. It also offers real-time data to carriers for better route planning, revenue management, and fraud prevention.

The integrated fuel delivery system connects all financial institutions to a central fuel management network, enabling gas stations nationwide to accept payments from banks, mobile money providers, and small financial institutions. This enhances transparency, market monitoring, and helps combat illicit oil trade.

The national traffic penalty system digitizes manual processes, providing centralized penalty management, digital records for drivers, and convenient payment options. It also improves road safety by enabling comprehensive driver data registration and violation monitoring.