Ethiopia-Beef and leather.

ETHIOPIA.

LEATHER AND BEEF.

Ethiopia which is best known for famine and drought, has the third largest cattle herd in Africa, 23 million head of cattle.

Export earnings are expected to increase by over $1 billion, to a total of $2.6 billion for the year 2008-2009.

Whilst there is no export of beef at the moment, four new leather factories are currently under construction.

Leather exports make up $1.46 billion of the total exports.

Sino-Overseas Leather, the giant leather company from China, intends to finish leather and produce leather goods and products in the country, rather than export just the raw leather material.

This value adding will be a boost for the beef industry, as well as the economy in general.