Exhibition Provides Platform for Entrepreneurs to Market their products

 The young entrepreneur, who is at her early 20s supplies self-designed traditional cloths for the local market. Eldana, who was employed before she started her business a year ago, speaks the benefit of self-employment, “being self employed is among the satisfactory things and it always gives me satisfaction”. She believes that the government is supporting her and other entrepreneurs who prefer to do their own businesses in creating market linkage. She said the exhibition that opened on Friday in Addis Ababa is among the platforms that would enable to promote products and diversify markets. More than 50,000 people are expected to visit the city based micro and small enterprises exhibition, which kicked off on Friday, that Eldana and other entrepreneurs are displaying products. “Now I am not expecting help from others, so I am working hard to expand my business and to create my own fashion, as I need to introduce my country’s traditional cloths on the international fashion market”, she said. Since the government has pledge to give machinery through loan to support micro and small businesses, Eldana is planning to expand her business so that to supply her products to the global market. She feels that young people would be successful if they establish their own businesses rather than expecting the government to give them a job. Tefri Teka, a young entrepreneur, who is engaged on producing honey and honey products since last year, echoes Eldana’s belief. As a beginner, Teferi is working hard to upscale his business and introduce himself in the market. He said that being an entrepreneur can offer many innovative solutions for the country’s economic growth in addition to its benefit to the individual. Even though it has challenges, establishing one’s own business is not ‘a difficult thing, but it requests commitment, hard work and patience’, he said. “I can give a piece of advice for my friends who are young and who are too afraid to be an entrepreneur, because it’s better than to be unemployed, migrate to other countries, even  to be employed”, he said. If the youth can start their own businesses, the government supports them by facilitating market linkage, working place and other services, he added, as he is among the beneficiaries of these services. For Shewaye Haile , who is engaged in the production of leather products, being an entrepreneur, especially for women plays big role in supporting their livelihood and bringing change in their life. Shewaye, who produces leather products such as bags and belts, is working in a shed that she received from the government a year ago. She advised other young women to start their own businesses and strive to change their life. According to data’s over 31,000 micro and small enterprises are currently working only in the capital Addis Ababa