The 3rd Regional Stakeholders Consultative Meeting & COMESA/LLPI 25th Year Anniversary Celebration was Held on 20th - 21st November 2015 at Haile Resort Hotel, Ziway, Ethiopia.
The Regional Stakeholders Consultative Meeting was held with the objective of disclosing the 2015 major achievements and 2016 work plans at COMESA/LLPI Member States Levels.
Participants were drawn from public, private and academia of Member States and Turkey.
During the workshop, the following presentations were made:
- Major Activities Accomplished in 2015 and 2016 Work Plan and Key Factors Taken into Account;
- 2015 Budget/Expenditure Performance and 2016 Proposed Budget;
- Consolidated Resource Mobilization Activities, International Meetings and Strengthening Collaborations in 2015;
- Leather Value Chain Strategy Formulation Performances in 2015 and Plan for 2016;
- COMESA/LLPI Information Systems and Training Platform
Leather Sector Major Activities accomplished in 2015 and Work Plan for 2016 were presented by the following Member States:
- Burundi
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
At the end of the Regional Consultative Meeting, the 25th Year Anniversary of COMESA/LLPI was also celebrated. Apart from the Member States' delegates and participants, the Board of Directors of COMESA/LLPI, the first Director of COMESA/LLPI and all LLPI Staff were part of the celebration event.
Prof. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, the Executive Director of the Institute, during his 25th year anniversary celebration opening remark and welcoming speech, highlighted that "The Institute, over the last 25 years, strived to meet the aspiration set by the founding for-fathers in 1990 that provided the Charter which established this Institute. COMESA/LLPI is serving as a bridge between many stakeholders and associates across the industry. The Institute’s activities and programs showed tremendous increase and continued to get enhanced in quality, depth and breadth both at member States and headquarters levels".
Dr. Robert O. Arunga, the First Director of COMESA/LLPI, with his wife, were also invited and participated in the 25th Year Anniversary Celebration. Dr. Arunga was awarded certificate for his contribution as founder of COMESA/LLPI. In addition, Best Employee of the year 2015 award and long serving award was given to four of COMESA/LLPI Staff.
Cake Ceremony was inaugurated by Dr. Arunga and his wife.
