Ethiopia signs deal with Italy to increase the involvement of women in the leather industry.

The latest cooperation deal signed by Italy’s ambassador with Ethiopia’s ministry of finance on Thursday will help women entrepreneurs enter the leather industry. Within the Ethio-Italian Cooperation Country Framework, the two countries signed agreements for two programs. The agreement signed on July 1 between Arturo Luzzi, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia, and Yasmin Wohabrebbi, State Minister of Finance, focuses on assisting women “to enter or grow in the leather sector,” according to the Italian embassy in Addis Ababa. The million-euro program intends to promote women’s entrepreneurial development and employment possibilities in the leather industry by developing entrepreneurial skills, strengthening market links, and networking opportunities, according to the statement. The second agreement the two countries reached an agreement on is “building labor market intermediation that promotes Ethiopia’s economic transformation.” According to the embassy, the ultimate goal of the initiative, which has received a grant of 4 million euros, is to improve labor market outcomes for Ethiopia’s rural people by establishing effective Public Employment Services.