The ambassador of the Embassy of Zambia in Ethiopia and permanent representative to the Africa Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Her Excellency Mrs Rose Kashembe Sakala visited ALLPI on the 22^nd August, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to acquaint herself with the work of ALLPI as well as have the opportunity to interact with some selected institutions and SMEs in the leather sector in Ethiopia. ALLPI facilitated a guided tour of Her Excellency to the selected institutions.

The ALLPI team led by the Acting Executive Director (Ag.ED) and Programmes Coordinator, Mr. Ghebregziabher Ghebremedhin welcomed the Ambassador and permanent representative to the AU and UNECA and expressed gratitude for her visit.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in collboration of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the State of Eritrea conducted a Training of Trainers in “Footwear and leather good Design,Craftsmanship, Export Readiness, Transformative Entrepreneurship, Costing and Record Keeping” during 19^th July – 1^st August 2023 in Asmara, Eritrea.

The objective of the training was to:

1. Enhance SMEs knowledge landscap on Leather Footwear Design, Craftsmanship and Exports Readiness;
2. Facilitate SMEs growth through Shifting their Mindset and Embrace Changes;
3. Enhance MSMEs technical capacity and economies of scale to supply both Public and Private Sector institutional buyers;
4. Promote replication through knowledge sharing &dissemination.
5. Assisting SMEs understand the importance of correct and effective record keeping.
6. Control costs, make decisions and plan for future;
7. Set appropriate prices to make justifiable profit;

A total of 30 leather-based SME representatives from Asmara, Eritrea have attended the ToT program. The training is part of the technical assistance grant of the BADEA Project activity.

ALLPI in collaboration with Ethiopian Red Cross Society Training Institute organized 3 days Basic First Aid Training from 5^th – 7^th July 2023. This training was attended by 18 ALLPI staff members and the training was organized with the objective of awareness creation on First Aid and basic life saving fundamentals.

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East Africa Textile and Leather Week, which ran through June 28^th to 30^th 2023, at Arabuko Hall, Sarit Expo Center, Nairobi was concluded to have global business linkages in the 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 East Africa manufacturing sector in general and Leather in particular.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) as part of its strategic activities, has supported 5 export-potential Leather player from Member state (Kenya and Ethiopia) to create production and marketing Linkages and knowledge from trade fair platform.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) delegates at the invitation of the secretary General of ARSO participated in the 29^th General Assembly and Africa Standardization week held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 5 – 7 July 2023. The ALLPI delegates Mr. Ghebregziabher Ghebremedhin Acting Executive Director (Mission Leader) and Mr. Harrison Mungai (Tannery and Leather Value Chain Expert) participated in the Africa Standardization Day. The African Day of Standardization has been a series of an annual events and this year it was   the 29^th of the series of annual events. The African Day of Standardization is celebrated with the aim of raising awareness among African policy makers, Leaders, Regulators, Industry, Academia, consumers and the entire citizens on the benefits of standardization and to celebrate the milestone of Africa Standardization.

The 29^th General Assembly and Africa Day of Standardization was celebrated under the Theme “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation One Standard, One Test – One Certificate Accepted Everywhere.” The Theme is in the context of the AU year 2023, theme on Accelerated Implementation of the AfCFTA.

As part of the its mandate to promote the regional and national leather sector development, Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in collaboration the Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC) conducted a one-day workshop on “Enhancing market access and local sourcing for micro enterprises” on 3^rd July 2023 at TPCSI, Thika, Kenya. The workshop was part of the BADEA Technical Assistance on the leather industry which has been implemented for the six countries namely Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.

ALLPI attended the 11th International Conference on “Cotton, Textile, and Apparel Value Chain in Africa” and a pre-conference event on “Strengthening University-Industry Linkage to support the Ethiopian Tamrit (Let Ethiopia Produce) Initiative” held on 25th – 27th May 2023 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Strengthening University-Industry linkage to support the Ethiopia Tamrit (Let Ethiopia Produce) Initiative was officially opened by H.E. Melaku Alebel, Minister, Ministry of Industry of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on 25^th May 2023.

H.E. Melaku Alebel, in his opening speech underscored that the 11^th CTA conference as a special conference as it has brought academicians, policy makers and private sector stakeholders in one hall to discuss pressing issues and challenges in the industry.  Further he spoke about the objectives of launching the Ethiopia Tamrit Initiative and praised the University for making the initiative as the thematic area of the Conference. Furthermore, the Conference being conducted during the week of the 60^th anniversaries of Bahir Dar University, and Africa Union Commission makes the conference as special event.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) participated in a Stakeholders consultative meeting which was organized by COMESA Secretariat to enhance private sector especially Small and Medium Scale animal and animal product producers’ and value chain actors’ participation in sustainable regional and global value chains which was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 3rd to 5th May 2023.

The meeting was officially opened by Dr Bishar Fille Elmi, Director for Livestock production on behalf Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative, Kenya. In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary recognized the Directors of Veterinary Services and Animal Production who were present, Director of AU-IBAR, representatives of WOAH, RECs, Member States and COMESA Staff.

The 2nd Edition of the “Ethiopia Tamrit” ( to mean “Let Ethiopia Produce”) Expo, which ran through 6th  – 10th  May 2023 at Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was concluded to have a great energy in developing the manufacturing sector of Ethiopia. The Expo has been the initiative of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia HE Dr. Abiy Ahmed to promote Ethiopian manufacturing to the level potential demands. The Expo was  part of the 10-year development plan for the industry sector –intends to address the challenges that producers at all levels confront during the manufacturing process, and increase the sector’s contribution to the GDP.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) Co-sponsored the Expo which has been an important Platform for Ethiopian Manufacturing sector enhancement in general and Leather and Leather Products and allied industries markets in particular.

The 13th Edition of the All Africa Leather Fair (AALF), which ran through 20th – 22nd April 2023 at Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was concluded to have global business linkages in the leather sector.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) Co-sponsored and co-organized this edition which is an Ideal Platform for Leather and Leather Products and allied Industries markets in Africa.