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.