COMESA/LLPI Held Consultative Workshop and Meetings, respectively, on Strategy formulation and Leather Technology Curriculum Development in Bujumbura

The COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute’s organized and fully sponsored consultative workshop for the Burundi Leather Sector Strategy formulation was held at Martha Hotel, Bujumbura, from August 21^st to 22^nd 2014.

The formulated Strategy will serve as a road map to design and implement programmes and projects for the development and modernization of the Burundi leather sector so that it contributes to the country’s poverty reduction and job & wealth creation efforts. The workshop that was organized in collaboration with the Minstere du Commercede l’Industrie, des Posts et du Tourisme was preceded by COMESA/LLPI Experts’ Visits and meetings with the value chain actors and concerned stakeholders.

A total of 35 participants drawn from different leather value chain segments within and outside Bujumbura and concerned government ministries took part in the workshop. This two-day workshop was officially opened by In. Havyarimana Dismas, Directeur General de l’ Industry /Minstere du Commerce de l’Industrie, des Posts et du Tourisme. In his speech In. Dismas, indicated that Burundi currently participates almost exclusively at the lower end of the value chain rather than the higher value-added, export-oriented finished leather goods segment. Although the leather sector is believed to have a potential to increase its contribution to the economy in the form of employment, foreign currency earnings, the presence of wide ranging and mutually reinforcing problems at several stages of the value chain have kept production volume, value addition and quality low. Thus he called participants to contribute their level best in the formulation of the strategy that will take the sector towards higher value added and regionally competitive level.

The COMESA/LLPI Executive Director, Dr Mwinyihija Mwinyikione, gave opening statement and made presentation on the importance of leather value chain. He thoroughly discussed the global and COMESA Region’s leather sector context and illustrated opportunities that are available to Burundi.

Workshop participants, after the two days discussions both in breakout groups and in plenary sessions, came-up with important issues. They also proposed interventions that will constitute important elements of the strategy.
Parallel to the Workshop, a curriculum development Experts Team composed of participants from COMESA/LLPI, Minstere du Commercede l’Industrie, des Posts et du Tourisme, Ministry of High Education and  Scientific Research, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education held meetings and produced a draft Curriculum for Level I, II and III, and Diploma Level prorammes in Leather Technology. The principal objectives of these Curricula, other than empowering the youth, will be playing a fundamental role in availing middle level expertise to the Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs), who will be engaged in the leather sector.