The New Secretary General of COMESA, H.E CHILESHE KAPWEPWE, Visited Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 17th September 2018. The Secretary General was accompanied by Mr. Simal Amore, Chief – Strategic Planning and Research, and Mr. Salvator Matata, Head of COMESA Liaison Office to the AU. The SG was welcomed by the Executive Director - Prof. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija and ALLPI staff.
The objective of her visit was to have an overview of the activities and future plans of ALLPI with respect to the development of the leather sector in Member States and at Regional level. The visit also created a good opportunity for ALLPI family and stakeholders from Ethiopia to meet and introduce themselves to the SG.
During the visit, a short meeting was held during which brief presentations were made on ALLPI’s major activities, achievements and future plans at country, region and continental levels. The Meeting was also attended by Stakeholders from Ethiopia Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI), Oliberte Footwear Factory, and Ethio-Footwear Cluster Cooperative Society (EIFCCOS), who also briefed the SG on the Ethiopian leather sector performance and the existing excellent working relationship with ALLPI.
H.E. SG, expressed her appreciation for ALLPI activities and achievements on capacity development, Technology Transfer, Inter-regional trade, curriculum harmonization, Certification, Triple Helix approach, SMEs development, Waste Management and others that are inline with COMESA mission and objectives. She commended for the progress so far recorded in the leather sector and requested to keep up with the momentum. The SG reiterated COMESA’s continued and full support to ALLPI, in all its endeavors.
The visit was concluded with Ethiopia coffee ceremony and group photo.