Emerging Trends in the Ethiopian Leather Industry: Innovation, Digitalization and new Wave of Entrepreneurship: A Review of Literature
Teklay AT
ABSTRACT
The Ethiopian leather industry, historically a vital sector for the country’s economy, is undergoing significant transformation driven by emerging trends in innovation, digitalization, and entrepreneurship. This abstract examines how these forces are reshaping the landscape, creating new opportunities and addressing long-standing challenges. Innovation in processing techniques and product design is enhancing leather quality and diversity, enabling producers to meet evolving international standards and consumer preferences. Digitalization is playing a crucial role by streamlining production workflows, improving supply chain management, and enabling access to new markets through e-commerce platforms and digital marketing strategies. Additionally, a vibrant new wave of entrepreneurship is fueling the sector’s growth, characterized by startups leveraging technology and creative business models to innovate and compete globally.
The analysis highlights how these developments contribute to increased efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity within the industry, supporting job creation and economic diversification. However, it also identifies challenges such as the need for infrastructure improvement, capacity building, and policy support to fully realize the sector’s potential. The study draws on recent data, case studies, and sectoral reports to offer insights into how Ethiopia’s leather industry can sustain this momentum and enhance its competitiveness on the global stage.
