The Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE reiterates her Government’s commitment to Support the Leather sector SMEs in Burundi, as she commends ALLPI for providing Technical Support to the Leather Sector MSMEs to boost Productivity and Competiveness.
As Burundi observes its national industrial week, the Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, Hon. Marie Chantal NIJIMBERE visited the business incubation center / Satellite Design Studio in Kamenge, Bujumbura. During this National Industrial week, Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and the Burundi government are also conducting a TOT in Design, Product development, Manufacturing craftsmanship and Export readiness.
This training is made possible through the grant funding support provided by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
The BADEA grant funding support comprises the provision of “basic equipment for footwear production” and “capacity building Training in Footwear and leather good Design, Craftsmanship, Export Readiness, Transformative Entrepreneurship, Costing and Record Keeping”.
Earlier this year ALLPI completed installation of equipment at Business Incubation Center/ Satellite Design Studio in Kamenge area, Bujumbura, Burundi. The installation of the equipment is proceeded with the capacity building training which commenced on the 22nd June, 2022 at Business Incubation Center/ Satellite Design Studio situated in Kamenge area , Bujumbura, Burundi and it is running up to the 4th July , 2022.
During her visit to the incubation center, the Hon. Minister addressed the participants and reiterated her government’s commitment to support the leather sector SMEs. She cited the Burundi Leather sector as a priority sector that has big opportunities for job creation.
She commended ALLPI for providing the Training of Trainers capacity building program for the SMEs, and she also thanked BADEA for the funding of the equipment that is now installed in the Business Incubation Center/ Satellite Design Studio, including the funding for the training program that is currently in session.
The honorable minister appreciated the Cluster, Business Incubation Center/ Design Studio initiate, and she appealed to ALLPI to continue supporting the Leather Sector, including helping Burundi to improve the quality of products, and addressing the leather sector environmental issues.
In concluding her visit the Hon. Minister held a discussion with the ALLPI team and expressed her commitment to expedite the placement of the Satellite Design Studio Manager and the setting up of the advisory committee for the effective operations of the Business Incubation Center/ Satellite Design Studio. She also acknowledged the need to build the capacities for the technical team at her ministry through a study tour of the Ethiopian leather sector. The draft concept note for the study tour was also handed to her in an effort to lobby her support for study tour.
