Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 8th April 2025
The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) successfully hosted its Second Breakfast Meeting with Embassy Representatives of COMESA Member States at the Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, under the theme “Harnessing Diplomatic Engagement to Drive Intra-African Trade and Value Chain Development.” The high-level forum brought together Ambassadors, AU officials, development partners, and industry leaders to advance Africa’s leather sector through the COMESA Leather Value Chain Strategy and the AfCFTA framework.
Guest of Honour H.E. Yasmin Wohabrebbi, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Trade and Regional Integration, underscored the nation’s dedication to industrialization through initiatives like “Ethiopia Tamrit,” which prioritizes value addition, youth employment, and industrial park development. She highlighted Ethiopian Airlines’ vast network as a logistical asset for regional trade, reinforcing Ethiopia’s role as a leather sector leader.
Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe, ALLPI Executive Director, emphasized economic diplomacy as a catalyst for unlocking Africa’s leather potential, while Board Chairperson Mr. Nobby Macharia called for stronger SME and youth inclusion. A highlight was the showcase of Ethiopian leather products by 10 local producers, mostly women-led SMEs, demonstrating the sector’s quality and export readiness.
COMESA Leather Value Chain Strategy: A Game-Changer launched on 28th March 2025 in Nairobi with EU funding under RECAMP, the strategy aims to transform Africa into a global leather competitor by bridging production gaps, enhancing value addition, and boosting intra-African trade. H.E. Ms. Chileshe Kapwepwe, COMESA Secretary-General, and Kenya’s Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhwana endorsed the plan, which emerged from consultations across 21 member states.
A panel of experts outlined actionable steps: harmonizing policies, improving logistics and traceability, adopting green technologies, and expanding SME access to finance. The Burundian Ambassador stressed the need for trust in African products, while the AUC representative urged scaling the COMESA strategy continent-wide under AfCFTA. UNIDO called for urgent partnerships to protect local industries through tariffs and quality standards.
Over the past 10 years, ALLPI has trained 7,000+ SMEs, established 15 incubation centres, and partnered with COMESA, EU, AfDB, and UNIDO to advance sustainable leather industrialization. The meeting reaffirmed commitments to inclusive growth, with diplomatic missions pledging closer collaboration to attract investments and facilitate trade missions.
The event closed with a resolve to leverage AfCFTA, diplomatic networks, and the COMESA strategy to position Africa’s leather sector as a model for industrial transformation. ALLPI will continue to champion value addition, youth empowerment, and green industrialization, with follow-up engagements planned to monitor progress.