Businesses urge to reduce furniture imports

Businesses involved in the furniture, construction and finishing products as well as technologies urged on Wednesday to reduce furniture imports.

A survey conducted by the Chemical and Construction Materials Input Development Institute in 2018 show that the government imported 10.9 billion Birr worth of furniture and bamboo products in foreign exchanges.

Ethiopia is the fifth importer of furniture in Africa.

To reduce such a dependency businesses involved in the furniture, construction and finishing products and technologies urged to rely more on local products.

Meanwhile, the International and Conference on the Furniture & Construction Finishing Products, Technologies, Machineries, Raw Materials, Accessories and Services (FINTEX) is slated to be held from April 7 to 9, 2022 at the Ethiopian Sky Light Hotel.

The event will be co-hosted by African Trade-Fair Partners and Prana Events, focusing on “Putting Business in the Spotlight”.

The conference program will offer topics for policymakers, business communities, and professionals on sustainable development of the local industries.

Professional standards and ethics, education and training; capacity building, global business positioning, and surveying techniques for Ethiopia’s economic and industrial development in the sectors are the topics and events to be covered in the upcoming workshop.

The expo is expected to welcome more than 4000 potential buyers and over 400 delegated to meet with companies that exceed 60 from Ethiopia, Kenya, Poland, and Turkey. Participants will showcase the latest in the furniture, interior, and finishing value chain, which is unique as no other expo in Ethiopia is dedicated to the entire field of work.