Nairobi, Kenya – A recent training workshop which ended on 11th July 2025 in Nairobi aimed to strengthen Kenya's leather sector by empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and artisans. The workshops, focused on cluster development and cooperative formation, provided participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance productivity, foster technological advancement, and improve market access. Key objectives included understanding cluster concepts, analyzing cluster potential, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning using the VMOSA framework, and navigating cooperative formation and registration.

Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), this premier textile, leather, and fashion sourcing exhibition featured over 100 exhibitors across various categories, including leather goods, accessories, textiles, and sustainable innovation. Organised by Messe Frankfurt South Africa, the event emphasised African creativity, international sourcing, and sustainable development.

The event aims to attract professionals from across the globe, fostering vibrant networking opportunities for manufacturers, industry associations, organisations, SSMEs, and high-end designers to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate.

The opening program of the event was marked by a significant ceremonial ribbon cutting, a symbol of the event's official commencement. The ribbon was cut by Michael Dehn of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, Tang Chang'an, Chinese Deputy Consul, George Zhang of CCPITTex, Faith Kolala, Manager of Growth Coalition - City of Cape Town, and Mark Goliath of IDC. This act, led by Mr. Michael Dehn, officially opened the event, signifying the beginning of three days of vibrant networking and collaboration.

Kigali, Rwanda – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda's leather sector are participating in a specialized training program aimed at enhancing their footwear design and product development capabilities. The initiative, held at the Masaka Business Incubation Center in Kigali, is a collaborative effort between the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), as part of the EU-funded Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II).

The intensive week-long workshop equips twenty selected entrepreneurs with the skills needed to create market-responsive products and add significant value to their offerings. The training, led by experts from ALLPI, focuses on practical areas such as strategic material sourcing, market research, and adapting designs to meet specific consumer demands.

A primary objective of the program is to empower these SMEs to design and manufacture products for institutional buyers. In a hands-on session, participants formed groups to develop brand concepts and prototypes for items with high local demand, including military boots, school shoes, and formal executive shoes for the army.

Mr. Kamayirese Jean, the chairperson of the Rwanda Leather Value Chain Association, opened the session by thanking ALLPI and ITC for the opportunity and encouraging the trainees to fully commit to absorbing the knowledge provided. The program is seen as a critical step in promoting local content and strengthening the overall competitiveness of Rwanda's leather industry.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Stakeholders from Tanzania's leather sector have successfully established the Dar es Salaam Leather Cluster (DLC) following a four-day intensive training workshop held in Dar es Salaam from June 9th to 13th, 2025. Facilitated by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), the workshop equipped participants with the knowledge and tools to design, manage, and implement effective cluster cooperatives.

During the workshop, participants conducted a thorough situational analysis, pinpointing critical challenges such as poor coordination, restricted market access, and inconsistent raw material quality. This led to the development of a strategic framework for the new cluster.

The event culminated in the conceptual launch of the DLC, with an interim leadership committee elected to steer its formation. A comprehensive strategic plan was outlined, focusing on collaborative actions across the entire leather value chain and the necessary steps for official cooperative registration. The newly formed DLC is now poised to enhance the sector's competitiveness, improve product quality, and capitalize on market opportunities.

Juba, South Sudan – A recent workshop in Juba, held from June 23rd to 27th, 2025, has laid the groundwork for strengthening South Sudan's growing leather sector. The event, a collaborative effort between the MARKUP II and African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) projects, focused on equipping participants with the necessary skills for designing, managing, and implementing effective cluster cooperatives along the leather value chain.

The workshop emphasized that forming cooperatives is crucial for South Sudanese Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to unlock the full potential of the country's rich natural resources in leather production. Participants were urged to actively engage in developing the sector, recognizing the power of collective action to overcome challenges like high production costs through joint marketing, procurement, and production initiatives.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The All Africa Leather Fair (AALF) 2025 officially opened today, May 23rd, at Addis Ababa's Millennium Hall. Organized by the Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA), the three-day event (May 23-25) unites stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to showcase innovations and forge partnerships within the leather industry.

AALF 2025 features over 70 exhibitors and expects more than 3,000 visitors, including tanners, manufacturers, designers, and policymakers. The fair offers a comprehensive platform with exhibitions of leather products and inputs, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, fashion shows, an innovation zone highlighting sector advancements, and panel discussions on industry challenges and opportunities. This aligns with Ethiopia's "Let Ethiopia Produce" initiative, aimed at boosting manufacturing and value addition in the leather supply chain.

The African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) made a strong impression at the 13th Annual Cotton, Textile, and Apparel (CTA-2025) Conference, held from 1st to 3rd May 2024 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Hosted by the Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology (EiTEX), Bahir Dar University, the high-profile event convened stakeholders from across academia, industry, and government to advance innovation and regional collaboration in Africa’s textile and fashion value chains.

ALLPI’s Executive Director, Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe, delivered a compelling keynote address under the theme “Africa’s Industrialization: Our Time is Now.” In his remarks, he underscored the urgency of building robust, sustainable, and competitive value chains in textiles, apparel, leather, and fashion—critical sectors for Africa’s job creation, innovation, and inclusive growth.

The 4th edition of Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) which ran through April 24th to 26th 2025, at Arabuko Hall, Sarit Expo Center, Nairobi was concluded to have global business linkages in the Textile and leather sector. This three-day conference and exhibition, brings together key industry stakeholders and thought leaders from around the globe to explore the vast potential of Africa manufacturing sector in general and Leather in particular.

Previously known as the East Africa Textile & Leather Week (EATLW), this event has rebranded and aligned with the prestigious ASFW global brand. Originating from Addis Ababa, ASFW has long been recognized as Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest sourcing event, bringing together thousands of industry professionals each year.

The African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) played a key role in the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) Africa Summit, held for the first time in Africa from 9-10 April 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. Co-hosted by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and Absa Bank Kenya, the summit convened over 70 countries under the theme “Africa’s Global Future: Integrated, Innovative, and Sustainable,” aligning with the AfCFTA’s vision for trade-led growth.

Represented by Executive Director Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe and Trade Expert Mrs. Birkinesh Gonfa, ALLPI contributed to critical discussions on leveraging AfCFTA, digital transformation, women and youth empowerment, and sustainable trade. The summit emphasized innovation, inclusive finance, and SME digitalization, with Kenya’s President Ruto highlighting chambers of commerce as key drivers of trade integration. Absa Bank Kenya’s Elizabeth Wasunna also commended the platform for advancing Africa’s trade dialogue.

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Burundi's leather industry is set to become more competitive and transparent thanks to a recent pilot training program focused on hides and hides & skins traceability and eco-certification. From February 10-13, 2025, the Ministry of Trade, Transport, Industry, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), conducted the training to enhance the leather and hides & skins sector across 14 COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) member countries.

The initiative, funded by the EU through the COMESA 11th EDF Programme, aims to enable buyers to trace the origins of Burundian hides & skins, which are gaining prominence in the regional market. Dr. Jeanine Niyonkomezi, the Director General in charge of industry, emphasized the project's importance for national development, highlighting the significance of traceability.

Jean Prosper Ndayisaba, managing director of the Burundi Prosperity Tannery Industry, echoed this sentiment, noting the initiative’s potential to increase the visibility of Burundian hides & skins and improve understanding of the economic impact of the skin trade.