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.

Eswatini – Eswatini artisans are boosting their leatherworking skills thanks to a collaborative training program focused on vegetable tanning, aimed at enhancing local craftsmanship and economic opportunities. The International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, is spearheading the initiative as part of the Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Programme (ELVCDP), which seeks to strengthen the beef and goat production sectors.

The training, organized in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), began on February 10, 2025, at the Eswatini Co-operative Development College (ECODEC). It brings together 24 participants, representing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), artisan institutions, and the public sector.

Bishoftu, Ethiopia – The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) successfully concluded its five-day management retreat held at the Pyramid Hotel and Resorts in Bishoftu, Ethiopia from January 20-24, 2025. The retreat focused on enhancing staff capabilities in project management, optimizing Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and aligning individual work plans with the institute's strategic objectives.

The training program, led by the Executive Director, included interactive sessions, presentations of annual work plans, and discussions on improving operational excellence. Key outcomes included developing a project management template for the QMS, establishing clear communication channels with member states, and emphasizing transparency in mission challenges. The Executive Director awarded certificates for participation in the Project Management Training.

The retreat concluded with a general staff meeting and celebrated ALLPI's achievements in 2024. This program reinforces ALLPI's commitment to staff development and greater impact within the leather industry.

ALLPI and Academia Della Moda IUAD- Italy signed a memorandum of understanding on the 30^th June 2023. The objective of the MoU is to provide the framework of cooperation between ACCADEMIA DELLA MODA IUAD and ALLPI in enhancing the establishment and operations of the best possible state-of-the-art Regional Design Studio (RDS) in Addis Ababa and the Satellite Design Studios (SDS) in the 10 ALLPI member states. 

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in collaboration with PEACE PARKS FOUNDATION NPC for the Herding for Health Programme is proud to announce the commencement of a training program to enhance skill at the community level in vegetable tanning (plant-based) and leather products development techniques in Mozambique.

 The training program’s objective is to enhance skill in leather processing to the participants at the community and Micro, Small and Medium-level Enterprises (MSME) levels to facilitate the transfer of technology in aspects of community vegetable tanning-based techniques.