The first Training Workshop under the project entitled “Structured Design Training for Regional Leather and Leather Products SMEs in Leather Products Design, Craftsmanship and Export” was held from 19 to 21 July 2017 in Kampala, Uganda. This Training workshop was organized by COMESA/LLPI in collaboration with the USAID - East African Trade and Investment Hub (EATIH). Over 20 participants attended the Training Workshop, who came from 11 countries of the region, namely Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The objectives of the workshop were to enhance the Focal Points’ appreciation of the scope of the Eastern Africa Hub project and its relationship with the Reginal Designers’ Studio; to capacitate Focal Points to apply the SMEs Selection Criteria and the administration of the Profiling Instrument; to enhance the Focal Point technical capacity to evaluate samples of leather footwear and products; and to identify and prioritize specific activities in the implementation of the Regional Designers Studio Project.

The Training Workshop was officially opened by the Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI. Prof. M. Mwinyihija and Director, Investment, East Africa Trade and Investment Hub, Mrs. Kanini Mutooni.

Presentations were delivered on the objectives and scope of the Hub Project and the Regional Designers Studio and the Selection Criteria and Profiling Instruments by Mr. Nicolas Mudungwe, Programs Coordinator, COMESA/LLPI.

Technical presentations on the Defects Identification Methodology were made on Leather Footwear and Leather Goods, respectively. by Mr. Feraw Kebede and Mr. Moses Mwangi who are renown experts in the Region.

Participants in Group works conducted Practical Evaluation of samples based on the Defect Analysis Methodology and this was further discussed in Plenary sessions.

The Training Workshop was concluded with the identification of priority interventions that should be implemented under the Flagship Regional Designers Studio Program; agreeing to initiate and implement activities virtually in the short to medium term and by allocation of tasks and timelines for the identified broad activities.

The Training Workshop Evaluation summary provided an account of participants’ views on various aspects of the Training Workshop. Overall, the Training Workshop was rated as good or excellent by all (100%) of the participants.

Following COMESA/LLPI’s wining to host the IULTCS 2021 Congress, the first Organizing Committee Meeting kicked-off on 26th July 2017 at LLPI’s Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Congress is to be organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian Government, Technology Universities, Private Sector Associations, and Professional Associations. The Meeting was officially opened by Prof. Mwinyihija, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI.

The objective of the Meeting was to formulate and structure different components of the Organizing Committee that will realize the successfulness of the event. The Meeting elected Congress President and Organizing Committee Chairperson. The Meeting also structured the following five committees and assigned the respective Chairs:

• Technical Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• Administrative Committee
• Communication Committee, and
• Mini-Exhibition Committee

Prof. Mwinyihija appreciated Government, University, and Association representatives from for their due attention to successfully organize the IULTCS 2021 Congress which is of the first of its kind in Africa.

As part of strengthening and promoting research and development projects focusing on the leather sector, COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) organized a one-day meeting for academic colleagues from Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, on 21st July, 2017 at Hotel African, Kampala, Uganda.

The meeting was organized to explore ways and means to facilitate and strengthen Joint Research and Networking as well as to further enhance COMESA/LLPI’s Capacity to Share Best Practices.

The Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI, Prof. Mwinyihija, opened the meeting by welcoming participants and giving a brief talk on LLPI’s endeavors to strengthen research activities for the development of the leather sector in the COMESA region. This was followed by presentations made by Dr. Douglas Onyancha from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology of Kenya, Mrs. Diana Nitamu from Makerere University Business School, Uganda and Prof Londiwe Nkiwane from National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe, respectively, on the following three project areas:

• Identifying the Determinants of the Leather Technology Adoption in Artisan/SMEs Involved in the Leather Footwear and Leather Goods Manufacturing in Kenya; 
• The Supply and Demand Implications on the Restriction on Exports of Hides and Skins and Potential Impact on Imports of Second Hand Footwear Ban in East Africa; and 
• Leather Products and their Accessories – Formation of a Business Incubation Centre at National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

The presentations were followed by discussions that allowed to appreciate the current status of the research activities of the three projects and make recommendations on the way forward and resource mobilization for the three projects. Participants agreed to come up with tangible results and make next progress report during the 11th Consultative forum that will be held in Livingstone, Zambia in December 2017.

COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) Delegation composed of the Institute’s  Board of Directors (Mrs. Annoncée Kuradusenge - Board Chairperson from Rwanda, Mr. Wondu Legesse and Mr. Abdul Hakiim Sekandi - Board Members respectively from Ethiopia and Uganda), Executive Director- Prof. Mwinyihija Mwinyikione, and Institutional Capacity Development and Consultancy Expert Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of the Republic of Uganda on the 18th July, 2017.

During the Courtesy visit, Prof. Mwinyihija expressed his deep gratitude to the Hon. Ms. Amelia Anne Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperative, of the Republic of Uganda, for receiving the delegation despite the busy schedule the Honorable Minister has. He then introduced members of the delegation after which the Board Chairperson briefed the Honorable Minster on the 32nd meeting of the Board and the COMESA/LLPI’s focus areas of activities and achievements in the leather sector in member States. Board members also briefed the Honorable Minster on their respective countries’ leather sector development activities.

The Honorable Minister, after thanking COMESA/LLPI for its remarkable activities for the development of the leather sector in COMESA region in general and in Uganda in particular, shared insights about the second-hand footwear and leather goods importation ban to be instituted in East African Community partner states starting from 2019, and capacity building and finance related challenges to unlock the potential of the leather sector.

The Thirty Second Meeting of the COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute’s Board of Directors was held in Kampala, Uganda at Hotel Africana on 17th – 18th July 2017. The Meeting was attended by the Board Members from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda. An apology was presented from Mr. Clement Phangaphanga (Malawi), who felt sick the night before his scheduled travel day. The Board Members expressed their best wishes and prayers for his quick recovery.

The Board examined the Institute’s January to June 2017 budget performance and work activities report as well as the 2018 proposed budget and work plan. The Board took cognizance of the progress that LLPI has achieved against its set annual targets that are informed by its strategic plan (2016 – 2025) and Annual Plan for 2017.

The Board also provided necessary Recommendations and Decisions for the Institute’s and Board’s consideration and guidance for the remaining period of the current year 2017 and approved the 2018 proposed Budget and work plan, for it to be considered by the relevant committee and endorsement by the Council of Ministers.

The Board registered it's appreciation and satisfaction for an excellent performance irrespective of its meagre resource. These were proud to be associated with the success registered and agreed that the milestones gained will translate to tangible beneficiation to Member States in the Region and ultimately realization of AUC Agenda 2063 pillar on industrialization.

As part of its Strategic objective of promoting the leather value chain in the COMESA Region, LLPI participated in the 53rd Zambia International Trade Fair which was held during 28th June – 4th July 2017 in Ndola, Zambia.

LLPI also sponsored six export oriented SMEs from the leather sector Zambia to participate in the fair so as to showcase their products, assess their level of competitiveness in the market, share better experiences, and network with possible buyers and input suppliers. Zimbabwean leather SMEs have also participated in the fair so as to showcase their products and create better business opportunities in the future.

COMESA/LLPI was represented with two of its experts, Mr. Awlachew Sintie (Information Systems Expert, M&E) and Mrs. Birkinesh Gonfa (Investment, Trade & Marketing Expert).

During the event, SMEs has got the opportunity to different Government organizations to get information about the possible supports they can get from them. Prestige Tannery was one of the participants from Zimbabwe. Representatives of the Tannery realized the demand of finished leather by the participant SMEs and has started thinking about opening a shop in Zambia and eventually start investing to establish vegetable tanning in Zambia.
As a side activity, the team of experts from COMESA/LLPI has visited the Kitwe and Chingola Leather Clusters, and Copperstone University. The Chingola leather cluster is supported by the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) company as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. The company has supported about 28 SMEs by providing basic machineries and tools, basic leather goods training, about 240 sq. meters fully equipped structure. COMESA/LLPI appreciated the initiative that KCM is taking and is grateful to partner with so as to organize individual efforts together for the broadest outcome. The team, in its visit to the Copperstone University, has confirmed that the University is working very hard to develop the Zambia leather sector. Prof. Stiwala Mundai, while explaining the University’s activities, stressed that the MoU signed with COMESA/LLPI should be implemented phase-by-phase to benefit the most out of it. He also disclosed his plan to pay visit to Ethiopia to get best experiences from institutions that has progressed well.

SMEs, who had been supported to participate the Zambia International Trade Fair, appreciated COMESA/LLPI’s effort to develop the Zambian Leather Sector in particular and the COMESA regional leather sector in general.

The COMESA/LLPI facilitated DR Congo Leather Vale Chain Strategy draft document and reports of an Incubation Centre feasibility study and Business Plan, validation workshop was held at Beatrice Hotel, Kinshasa, DR Congo from May 26 to 27, 2017.

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of SMEs with financial support from COMESA Secretariat and European Union. Other institutions that brought assistance in the organization and publicity of the workshop included RAWBANK, TELE 50, and  I MAGIQUE DESIGN.

A training  course in Leather Footwear  Design and Finishing to SMEs operating in the leather footwear manufacturing was held at the Masaka Business Incubation Center, Rwanda from May 14 to 22 2017. The training was organized by COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and East Africa community Affairs (MINEACOM); Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and RAPROLEP which is an Umbrella of leathers practitioners in Rwanda.

COMESA/LLPI participated in the 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit that was held during 23rd -25th May 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The objective of participation was to showcase the activities and plans of COMESA/LLPI to develop the regional leather sector, to create awareness of the potential of the leather sector for employment creation, wealth creation, and rural development; and to strengthen linkages with partner organizations, private sector, academia and public sector;

Presentation was made by Prof. M. Mwinyihija, Executive Director of LLPI titled: Leather and Footwear Value Chain an East African Perspective. The presentation has stimulated policy makers and participants to the extent how LLPI can work to develop the African leather sector. It has also emphasized the importance of local skills and knowledge to analyse the existing situation and formulate the way forward. The presentation has also underscored the importance of Clustering in the leather development and other Agro-based industries.

The Summit has created very good opportunity for public, private academia and other development partners to understand the activities of LLPI in the region. In return, the Summit has also opened doors for LLPI to network with different partners working for the development of the African Leather Sector.

The Summit was organized by the East Africa Community (EAC), the East Africa Business Council (EABC) and the Government of Rwanda.

The East African Community is composed of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Except Tanzania, all members of the East Africa Community are also members of COMESA/LLPI. And the East African Business Council is the apex advocacy body of business associations of the private sector Corporates from the East African countries.
The Summit identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock potential. These strategic sectors include: agro-processing and agri-business, mineral processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, fertilizers and agro-chemicals, leather, textile, and automotive sector.

As a regional player to develop the leather sector, LLPI’s participation in the Summit has had great importance in terms of showcasing its achievements and future plans, unleashing the potential of the regional leather sector, and creating networks with development partners, private, academia and public bodies.

COMESA/LLPI Signed MoU with Bahir Dar University - Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology (BDU-EiTEX) on 12th May 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The objective of the MoU is to create and Maintain their mutual interest in technology transfer, training and research, and as a contribution to increased international co-operation.

The signing was made by Mr. Addisu Ferede, Scientific Director of EiTEX and Prof. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI.