Page 48 - Abyssinia Busniess Network November 2019
P. 48

acknowledgements  both at home                                         input for all development agenda.
               and at an international level. I have
               got honors from the FDRE Ministry         “                            “I  think  the  current  chaos
               of Culture  and  Tourism  and                                          and  socio-political  turmoil  in
               Ethiopian Tourism Organization  at   I’m dreaming of                   our  country  will  pass.  So  I’m
               different times. I have also received                                  dreaming  of  establishing  a
               Century    International  Quality     establishing                     globally-known   huge   leather
               Award which is an internationalgold                                    industry  that  produces  uniquely
               award, and also Quality Service        a globally-                     Ethiopian leather products for the
               and quality management Award in                                        international market.”
               Geneva, Switzerland.                  known huge
                                                          leather                     ABN:What other business do you
                                                                                      run?
               ABN:  Have  you  ever  engaged      industry that
               in   discharging   your    social                                      Zelalem: I haven’t been stuck only
               responsibility,  or  any  community      produces                      with the tourism business. I had to
               development activity?                                                  search for another feasible business
                                                         uniquely                     which  is directly  or indirectly
               Zelalem: yes, our company has                                          related to the sector. I have learnt
               been participating in various social     Ethiopian                     that there is a gap in leather  and
               activities.  For instance,  we have        leather                     leather product market in Ethiopia.
               managed to develop green areas in                                      I have also learnt that  Ethiopia’s
               a bid to participating in the national   products                      hides and skins are of superior and
               environmental protection endeavor;                                     good quality  to produce leather
               places such as Meskel Square and in        for the                     products that  could attract  both
               front of the newly inaugurated Unity                                   local and global shoppers.
               Park have been rehabilitated by our  international                     A good number of foreigners are
               young Ethiopians who have finally  ”                                   and continental  and international
               company, and tried  to change  the
                                                          market.
               ugly faces of the areas. Furthermore,
                                                                                      coming to the country for regional
               we have managed to plant various
               indigenous trees at Entoto Botanic
                                                                                      conferences and tourism purposes
               Garden.  Wehave also donated
                                                                                      here in the capital, Addis Ababa;
                                                                                      these  are  tourists  who could  buy
               blood in connection with our tenth
                                                                                      quality Ethiopian leather products.
               anniversary. Regarding  capacity
               building, we did our best to cover
                                                                                      Then I decided to get into leather
               the  training  cost  of  at  least  fifteen
                                                  pay due attention to maintain peace
                                                                                      our Tour and Travel bureau nearby
                                                  and stability across the country; the
               run their own tour and travel agents.   canceled.  The  government  has to   business. First we have  changed
                                                                                      Monarch Hotel at Bole into leather
                                                  path we are taking this time around   show  room. We have begun with
               ABN:  How  do  you  assess  the    is not good. The image we have built   only  two machines,  changing
               existing situation of the country’s   for a  long period  of time  seems  to   semi-finished  leather  products
               tourism sector?                    be ruined, and it might take long to   to  finished  leather  products,
                                                  rebuild a destroyed image. Ethiopia   and found it was a feasible  and
               Zelalem: Oh, right now while you   is endowed with all types of tourist   profitable business.
               and me  are  holding  this interview   attractions in all types of seasons; we
               the situation is worsening. During   don’t have to lose the opportunity to   “When  the  going  gets  tough  the
               this high season the political     unleash the potential in a sustainable   tough  get  going,  that’s  what  I
               instability is jeopardizing the sector.   manner. So I could say that the   believe”
               As a result, significant numbers of   Ethiopian government and the people
               tour and travel schedules have been   need  to  take  peace  as  a  significant   We  are  now mainly  producing

                46  Abyssinia Business Nework  ህዳር  2012  / November    2019
   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52