Nairobi, Kenya was the center stage for a pivotal moment in the region's leather industry, culminating in the official launch of the COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy (2025-2029) on March 28, 2025. Preceding the launch, a focused two-day dialogue workshop, organized by the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), was conducted from March 27-28. The workshop serves to introduce and deliberate on the new five-year strategic plan designed to elevate the leather sector across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Burundi's leather industry is set to become more competitive and transparent thanks to a recent pilot training program focused on hides and hides & skins traceability and eco-certification. From February 10-13, 2025, the Ministry of Trade, Transport, Industry, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), conducted the training to enhance the leather and hides & skins sector across 14 COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) member countries.

The initiative, funded by the EU through the COMESA 11th EDF Programme, aims to enable buyers to trace the origins of Burundian hides & skins, which are gaining prominence in the regional market. Dr. Jeanine Niyonkomezi, the Director General in charge of industry, emphasized the project's importance for national development, highlighting the significance of traceability.

Jean Prosper Ndayisaba, managing director of the Burundi Prosperity Tannery Industry, echoed this sentiment, noting the initiative’s potential to increase the visibility of Burundian hides & skins and improve understanding of the economic impact of the skin trade.

Bishoftu, Ethiopia – The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) successfully concluded its five-day management retreat held at the Pyramid Hotel and Resorts in Bishoftu, Ethiopia from January 20-24, 2025. The retreat focused on enhancing staff capabilities in project management, optimizing Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and aligning individual work plans with the institute's strategic objectives.

The training program, led by the Executive Director, included interactive sessions, presentations of annual work plans, and discussions on improving operational excellence. Key outcomes included developing a project management template for the QMS, establishing clear communication channels with member states, and emphasizing transparency in mission challenges. The Executive Director awarded certificates for participation in the Project Management Training.

The retreat concluded with a general staff meeting and celebrated ALLPI's achievements in 2024. This program reinforces ALLPI's commitment to staff development and greater impact within the leather industry.

Eswatini – Eswatini artisans are boosting their leatherworking skills thanks to a collaborative training program focused on vegetable tanning, aimed at enhancing local craftsmanship and economic opportunities. The International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, is spearheading the initiative as part of the Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Programme (ELVCDP), which seeks to strengthen the beef and goat production sectors.

The training, organized in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), began on February 10, 2025, at the Eswatini Co-operative Development College (ECODEC). It brings together 24 participants, representing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), artisan institutions, and the public sector.

ALLPI and Academia Della Moda IUAD- Italy signed a memorandum of understanding on the 30^th June 2023. The objective of the MoU is to provide the framework of cooperation between ACCADEMIA DELLA MODA IUAD and ALLPI in enhancing the establishment and operations of the best possible state-of-the-art Regional Design Studio (RDS) in Addis Ababa and the Satellite Design Studios (SDS) in the 10 ALLPI member states.