Picture
Gallery
Eight
decades ago the formation of was conceived by
Armenians residing in Ethiopia. They started the business
to honour and continue a family tradition that has four centuries
of root in Armenia.
1917
Stephen with his son Mardiros and in partnership with another
person pioneered the first scientifically operated tannery
in Ethiopia at Abouker in Harrar.
1927
Mardiros with his father Stephen and his younger brother Krikor
moved to Addis Ababa and germinated Awash Tannery on the banks
of Akaki River. The capital at the time of formation was Birr 555,000
(which had a par value with the USD).
The Tannery was able to export pickled
sheepskin and sole leather to France.
1942
Mardiros bought a shoe factory to complete the integration.
1953
The eldest son of Mardiros joined the Tannery after completing
his studies in the USA, UK and Germany specializing in industrial
management, tanning technology and shoe making.
The capital of the Tannery was raised to
Birr 1,500,000.
1957
Encouraged by the support from his son, the Owner undertook
the construction of a modern tannery (by international standard)
in the vicinity of the old tannery. His Imperial Majesty Hiale
Silassie I inaugurated the new Darmar Tannery on 5th April
1957.
1957
The Tannery was renamed Darmar Co. Ethiopia Ltd. At this time
the Tannery had a processing capacity of 4,500,000 sq. ft.
of shoe upper leather and 450,000kgs of sole leather per annum.
Over the years Darmar established a solid
reputation as a producer of superior quality products all
over the world.
1975
The Tannery was nationalized following a change of government
in Ethiopia.
Cognizant of the importance of the leather industry to the
national economy, the government embarked on modernizing the
Tannery through new technology, manpower development and other
support facilities.
1975
won international Gold Mercury for quality products.
1977
The Tannery was named Awash Tannery.
1985
received gold medal and diploma for quality
products at Plovdiv trade fair, Bulgaria, for quality pickled
sheepskin production.
1998
Following a change in government and the subsequent liberalization
of the economy, Awash Tannery was privatized and came under
Ethio-Leather Industry PLC (ELICO).
The name of the Tannery was changed to ELICO
– Gloving and Hide Unit.
Building on the established image and goodwill
of Awash Tannery, ELICO aggressively pursued a strategy of
upgrading the Tannery to value- added finished leather particularly
gloving leather from sheepskin production and export by heavily
investing in the modernization of the Tannery and construction
of a modern effluent treatment plant.
Employees’ skill upgrading through training was also
intensively carried out to meet the ambitious goal set by
the new company.
As a result, ELICO is able to get foothold
in the international finished gloving leather market in a very short
period of time.
Today, ELICO is concentrating more
on consolidation and expansion of its market share and customer
base.
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