Gelila Manufacturing PLC has officially launched the production of export-quality shoes and soles at Bole Lemi Industrial Park with an investment of Birr two billion. The inauguration ceremony attracted officials, industry leaders, and invited guests.

Gelila’s operations are expected to support foreign exchange generation, create job opportunities, and add value to the leather sector. Alemayehu Seifu, Deputy CEO of the Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) for Corporate Resource Management, affirmed IPDC’s commitment to supporting both local and foreign investors.

Berhe Asefa, Owner and CEO of Gelila Manufacturing, noted that current production stood at 2,000 pairs of shoes per day, with plans to double output to 4,000 pairs as the facility scales up. “We are focused on producing high-standard footwear to serve both local and international markets,” Berhe stated.

In addition to its shoe production, Gelila is advancing other projects, including a bus assembly plant at Mekelle Industrial Park in partnership with Futon, covering 22,000 hectares, expected to be completed by May, 2025. This facility will produce electric, fuel, and hydrogen buses, with further plans to partner with an Italian firm for leather product manufacturing.

Bole Lemi Industrial Park, where Gelila operates, has already created approximately 27,000 jobs. To support private investment, the Ethiopian government is offering a range of incentives, including export benefits, customs exemptions, tax holidays, and competitive land lease rates.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald

Image source: Ethiopian News Agency