The Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA) has partnered with Germany’s Trade and Fairs Consulting GmbH (TFC GmbH) in a five-year strategic and events management agreement to elevate the All African Leather Fair (AALF) to a global platform. 

The agreement establishes a structured framework for collaboration, positioning AALF as a leading continental and international leather trade forum. ELIA retains full ownership of the AALF brand and intellectual property, while TFC GmbH will oversee professional planning and operational execution of the leather segment within Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Addis.

Under the partnership, the parties will jointly promote international participation, strengthen export market access, and enhance professional standards in event delivery. The collaboration is expected to attract qualified global buyers and exhibitors, open new export opportunities for Ethiopian leather manufacturers, and reinforce Ethiopia’s role within the international leather value chain.

Speaking at the signing, ELIA’s newly appointed president, Zelalem Merawi described the partnership as a strategic milestone in transforming AALF into a premier African leather trade platform backed by international expertise and structured global promotion. The agreement is governed by Ethiopian law and includes provisions for brand protection, financial transparency, and performance review.

Ethiopia’s leather industry currently generates up to 40 million US dollars annually in exports and contributes roughly 3 billion birr in import substitution, according to him. Despite this, the sector remains underdeveloped relative to its potential, with processing and exports still modest compared with overall African output.