Burundi’s Minister for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Her Excellency Mrs. PELATE NIYONKURU signed the COMESA Leather and Leather Products Institute’s “Instrument of Accession” on September 15, 2015.
It is to be recalled that the government of Burundi, in 2011, launched “Vision 2025” that represents a road map for Burundi’s sustainable development through accelerated economic growth, and for the reduction of poverty. During the same year the government launched the National Agricultural Investment Programme to streamline its National Agricultural Strategy into programmes that would direct agro-based development and eventually address the root causes of rural poverty.
Recognizing the leather sector as a basic and potential commodity for job creation, wealth generation and rural development, the government of Burundi in collaboration with COMESA/LLPI developed Leather Value Chain Strategy. The later will be used for the formulation and implementation of the programmes and projects which will help in the development and modernization of the leather sector. The joining of Burundi to COMESA/LLPI is, therefore, great news for the leather sector economy and, therefore, for all the stakeholders in the leather sector in Burundi as it will boost and further strengthen the collaborative activities with the Institute.
COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute very much welcomes Burundi as its 10th Member Country and will redouble its efforts to contribute towards the development of the leather industry in the country.