The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) has received a Certificate of Recognition from Ethiopian Enterprise Development in appreciation of its financial support and valuable contribution to the successful organization of the Ethiopia Tamrit Expo 2018.

The recognition highlights ALLPI’s continued commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s manufacturing sector, particularly by promoting the participation of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in national platforms that enhance visibility, competitiveness, and market linkages.

The certificate was presented during a special recognition ceremony held on 4 July 2026 at Melka Adama Hotel. ALLPI was represented by its Administrator, who received the award on behalf of the Institute.

ALLPI’s support to the Ethiopia Tamrit Expo 2018 aligns with its broader mandate of advancing industrial development, strengthening the leather and leather products sector, and promoting enterprise growth across Africa. The recognition further reflects the Institute’s commitment to working closely with national institutions and stakeholders to support sustainable manufacturing, value addition, and regional economic transformation.

Partial view of the Ethiopia Tamrit Review Workshop

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7 July 2026 — The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) participated in the 6th Round of the 5th Working Year of the 30th Ordinary Session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, held in Addis Ababa on 7 July 2026.

ALLPI’s participation followed an invitation extended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia to diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to the country. The session brought together invited representatives to observe the parliamentary proceedings and follow national-level deliberations on key issues of public interest.

The session was held in the presence of H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, who responded to questions raised by Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives. The discussions covered a wide range of national priorities, including political developments, social issues, economic performance, and the country’s ongoing reform agenda.

Representing ALLPI, the Administrator attended the session as the Institute’s official representative. The participation provided an opportunity for ALLPI to closely follow Ethiopia’s national development discourse and strengthen its engagement with government institutions, diplomatic partners, and regional stakeholders.

ALLPI’s presence at the parliamentary session reflects the Institute’s continued commitment to supporting sustainable economic development, regional cooperation, and value addition across Africa’s leather and leather products sector. As an intergovernmental organization hosted in Ethiopia, ALLPI remains committed to working with Member States, partner institutions, and development actors to advance leather sector transformation, industrial development, and inclusive growth across the continent.

As part of the collaborative efforts to implement the Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) Programme, the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), in partnership with the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB), conducted a field visit to women-owned leather product manufacturing enterprises on 9th December 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The delegation, led by Mr. Ghebregziabher Ghebremedhin, Program Coordinator at ALLPI, visited three women-owned leather enterprises to assess their production capacities, product quality, and market competitiveness. The enterprises visited included ABKA Leather, LINU Leather, and Kabana Leather—all recognized for their innovative and export-ready product designs.

The COYWA Programme, jointly implemented by COMESA, COMFWB, and AUDA-NEPAD, is a successor to the highly successful Business Incubation for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) initiative. Funded by the Government of Spain through AUDA-NEPAD, COYWA aims to empower women- and youth-owned SMEs in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe by providing advanced incubation, technical support, and capacity-building solutions.

Nairobi, Kenya – A recent training workshop which ended on 11th July 2025 in Nairobi aimed to strengthen Kenya's leather sector by empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and artisans. The workshops, focused on cluster development and cooperative formation, provided participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance productivity, foster technological advancement, and improve market access. Key objectives included understanding cluster concepts, analyzing cluster potential, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning using the VMOSA framework, and navigating cooperative formation and registration.

Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), this premier textile, leather, and fashion sourcing exhibition featured over 100 exhibitors across various categories, including leather goods, accessories, textiles, and sustainable innovation. Organised by Messe Frankfurt South Africa, the event emphasised African creativity, international sourcing, and sustainable development.

The event aims to attract professionals from across the globe, fostering vibrant networking opportunities for manufacturers, industry associations, organisations, SSMEs, and high-end designers to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate.

The opening program of the event was marked by a significant ceremonial ribbon cutting, a symbol of the event's official commencement. The ribbon was cut by Michael Dehn of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, Tang Chang'an, Chinese Deputy Consul, George Zhang of CCPITTex, Faith Kolala, Manager of Growth Coalition - City of Cape Town, and Mark Goliath of IDC. This act, led by Mr. Michael Dehn, officially opened the event, signifying the beginning of three days of vibrant networking and collaboration.

Kigali, Rwanda – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda's leather sector are participating in a specialized training program aimed at enhancing their footwear design and product development capabilities. The initiative, held at the Masaka Business Incubation Center in Kigali, is a collaborative effort between the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), as part of the EU-funded Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II).

The intensive week-long workshop equips twenty selected entrepreneurs with the skills needed to create market-responsive products and add significant value to their offerings. The training, led by experts from ALLPI, focuses on practical areas such as strategic material sourcing, market research, and adapting designs to meet specific consumer demands.

A primary objective of the program is to empower these SMEs to design and manufacture products for institutional buyers. In a hands-on session, participants formed groups to develop brand concepts and prototypes for items with high local demand, including military boots, school shoes, and formal executive shoes for the army.

Mr. Kamayirese Jean, the chairperson of the Rwanda Leather Value Chain Association, opened the session by thanking ALLPI and ITC for the opportunity and encouraging the trainees to fully commit to absorbing the knowledge provided. The program is seen as a critical step in promoting local content and strengthening the overall competitiveness of Rwanda's leather industry.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Stakeholders from Tanzania's leather sector have successfully established the Dar es Salaam Leather Cluster (DLC) following a four-day intensive training workshop held in Dar es Salaam from June 9th to 13th, 2025. Facilitated by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), the workshop equipped participants with the knowledge and tools to design, manage, and implement effective cluster cooperatives.

During the workshop, participants conducted a thorough situational analysis, pinpointing critical challenges such as poor coordination, restricted market access, and inconsistent raw material quality. This led to the development of a strategic framework for the new cluster.

The event culminated in the conceptual launch of the DLC, with an interim leadership committee elected to steer its formation. A comprehensive strategic plan was outlined, focusing on collaborative actions across the entire leather value chain and the necessary steps for official cooperative registration. The newly formed DLC is now poised to enhance the sector's competitiveness, improve product quality, and capitalize on market opportunities.

Juba, South Sudan – A recent workshop in Juba, held from June 23rd to 27th, 2025, has laid the groundwork for strengthening South Sudan's growing leather sector. The event, a collaborative effort between the MARKUP II and African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) projects, focused on equipping participants with the necessary skills for designing, managing, and implementing effective cluster cooperatives along the leather value chain.

The workshop emphasized that forming cooperatives is crucial for South Sudanese Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to unlock the full potential of the country's rich natural resources in leather production. Participants were urged to actively engage in developing the sector, recognizing the power of collective action to overcome challenges like high production costs through joint marketing, procurement, and production initiatives.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The All Africa Leather Fair (AALF) 2025 officially opened today, May 23rd, at Addis Ababa's Millennium Hall. Organized by the Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA), the three-day event (May 23-25) unites stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to showcase innovations and forge partnerships within the leather industry.

AALF 2025 features over 70 exhibitors and expects more than 3,000 visitors, including tanners, manufacturers, designers, and policymakers. The fair offers a comprehensive platform with exhibitions of leather products and inputs, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, fashion shows, an innovation zone highlighting sector advancements, and panel discussions on industry challenges and opportunities. This aligns with Ethiopia's "Let Ethiopia Produce" initiative, aimed at boosting manufacturing and value addition in the leather supply chain.