COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA-LLPI) participated in Leather Fair held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 25-27 march 2013. The Institute was represented by its Director Dr. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija. The Fair was organized by Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T) and Fashion Access.

The COMESA – Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI), in collaboration with the UNCTAD Unit of Economic Cooperation and Integration among Developing Countries, is hosting UNCTAD’s Project on “Strengthening Regional Supply Chains in Leather Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa”, funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The All Africa Leather Fair, has become an important annual event of the leather sector enterprises and stakeholders in the COMESA region. Annually both regional and international enterprises converge in Addis Ababa to show case the latest leather, footwear, leather goods and technology.

The 6th Core Team Meeting of the COMESA Leather Subsector was held at the Ambassador Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 23rd February 2013. The main objective of the meeting was to review past activities and the work plan for 2013.

The Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA), in cooperation with COMESA/LLPI and other sponsors, organized the 6th All-African Leather Fair (AALF) in Addis Ababa, from February 20-22, 2013.  The Trade Fair brought together tanners, footwear and other leather goods manufacturers, equipment and technology suppliers, chemical and inputs suppliers, manpower training institutions, trade promotion organizations, etc..from different parts of the globe. African companies and organizations constituted the largest attendance.

The Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA), in cooperation with COMESA/LLPI and other sponsors, is organizing the 6th All African Leather Fair (AALF) in Addis Ababa, from February 20-22, 2013.

Dr. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija has been appointed as the Director of the COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute, with effect from 2nd of January 2013. Dr. Mwinyihija is taking over the role from the longtime Director of COMESA, Dr Geremew Debelie, who passed away on the 10th of September, 2011.

The COMESA/LLPI conducted a Regional Leather Trade Information training workshop here in Addis Ababa, at the Ethiopian Red Cross Society Training Institute, from September 25 to 27, 2012, in collaboration with ITC. A total of 12 trainees from 6 COMESA/LLPI member countries, namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia attended the training. The trainers were from COMESA/LLPI (2 trainers) and ITC (2 trainers).

The Staff and Management of the COMESA Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) would like to convey our deep, heartfelt sorrow at the untimely passing away of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and, as Staff of an Inter-Governmental Institute and particularly as Ethiopian Nationals, we forward our condolences through your Ministry to his bereaved family, relatives, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the whole Nation.

May the Almighty God Rest His Soul in Peace.

Zewdu Kebede
Acting Director