George Shoe, a Taiwanese footwear group that announced plans to set up a factory in Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa last October, has exported its first batch of leather shoes from the country.

Asian companies can take advantage of Ethiopia’s trade deals if they base manufacturing plants there. George invested alongside a number of Chinese manufacturers also keen to take advantage of tax benefits, a large and relatively cheap labour force and proximity to raw material (leather).

George Shoe is currently producing 4,000 pairs a day out of a capacity for 16,000 and has completed a month long pilot production programme, reported local press.

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