A training course in Basic Footwear and Leather Goods Making to SMEs was held from August 13 to 20 2017 in Djibouti at Lycee Industriel and Commercial Institute. The training was organized, under the COMESA-RISM Program financial support, by COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute in collaboration with the Ministère Délégué Chargé du Commerce, des PME, du Tourisme et de la Formalisation.

COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) Delegation composed of the Institute’s  Board of Directors (Mrs. Annoncée Kuradusenge - Board Chairperson from Rwanda, Mr. Wondu Legesse and Mr. Abdul Hakiim Sekandi - Board Members respectively from Ethiopia and Uganda), Executive Director- Prof. Mwinyihija Mwinyikione, and Institutional Capacity Development and Consultancy Expert Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of the Republic of Uganda on the 18th July, 2017.

During the Courtesy visit, Prof. Mwinyihija expressed his deep gratitude to the Hon. Ms. Amelia Anne Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperative, of the Republic of Uganda, for receiving the delegation despite the busy schedule the Honorable Minister has. He then introduced members of the delegation after which the Board Chairperson briefed the Honorable Minster on the 32nd meeting of the Board and the COMESA/LLPI’s focus areas of activities and achievements in the leather sector in member States. Board members also briefed the Honorable Minster on their respective countries’ leather sector development activities.

The Honorable Minister, after thanking COMESA/LLPI for its remarkable activities for the development of the leather sector in COMESA region in general and in Uganda in particular, shared insights about the second-hand footwear and leather goods importation ban to be instituted in East African Community partner states starting from 2019, and capacity building and finance related challenges to unlock the potential of the leather sector.

The Hub’s footwear consultant traveled to Ethiopia and Kenya over the past week to meet with footwear stakeholders and exporters. Ethiopia is the largest African exporter of footwear under AGOA and Kenya is seeking to revitalize its leather sector, with footwear as a major component. The Hub’s footwear consultant assessed Ethiopian and Kenyan footwear firms to identify export-ready enterprises with which the Hub will engage. Selected firms will benefit from one-on-one technical assistance and linkages with U.S. buyers. Selected firms will also be eligible to participate in Hub-sponsored trade shows, including the upcoming Sourcing at MAGIC trade show in Las Vegas, NV on February 20-23, 2017.

While in Ethiopia, the Hub’s footwear consultant conducted a technical workshop with 20 export-ready companies to educate participants on U.S. market dynamics and requirements. Prof. Mwinyihija, the Executive Director of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute also made a presentation on intra-regional footwear market opportunities in Eastern Africa which was well received by companies.

Following COMESA/LLPI’s wining to host the IULTCS 2021 Congress, the first Organizing Committee Meeting kicked-off on 26th July 2017 at LLPI’s Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Congress is to be organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian Government, Technology Universities, Private Sector Associations, and Professional Associations. The Meeting was officially opened by Prof. Mwinyihija, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI.

The objective of the Meeting was to formulate and structure different components of the Organizing Committee that will realize the successfulness of the event. The Meeting elected Congress President and Organizing Committee Chairperson. The Meeting also structured the following five committees and assigned the respective Chairs:

• Technical Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• Administrative Committee
• Communication Committee, and
• Mini-Exhibition Committee

Prof. Mwinyihija appreciated Government, University, and Association representatives from for their due attention to successfully organize the IULTCS 2021 Congress which is of the first of its kind in Africa.

LLPI in pursuance of its mandate of empowering the SMEs, makes a breakthrough in facilitating Green Production of footwear in Africa. SMEs are producing footwears through eco-friendly processes through the technical support from the COMESA/LLPI and UNEP Switch Africa Green Project and financed by EU.

LLPI is optimistic through working partnership with UNEP and a kind assistance of the European Union (EU) it would create opportunities for reducing poverty, creating wealth, improving on gender parity and stimulating rural development particularly geared towards the SMEs empowerment.

Furthermore, LLPI is anticipating to replicate the success story in other Africa countries and, therefore, takes special appreciation to its excellent working partnership with Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC) and UNEP through financing accessed from EU.

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