Hesham Gazar, head of the Egyptian Leather Export Council, has announced that donkey leather is to be exported to China for use in medicines.
The decision to start exports was made after the Egyptian government granted permission for the new line of business.
During a phone call with a talk-show aired of Al-Asema TV channel, Gazar said that the trade and industry minister met with a delegation from China to agree on the amounts that will be exported, adding that an agreement was first reached in 2004.
The price of donkey leather has increased, he said, giving this as a reason for slaughtering them in Egypt for export.
He added that the meat of the slaughtered donkeys is sent to zoos and circuses.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
