A Team Consists of the Ministers and Higher Officials from Sudan Visited Different leather development related institutions in Ethiopia and held a discussion from February 26 – 27, 2018. The purpose of the mission was to share best experiences from Ethiopia focusing on industrial policy implementation on leather value chain. 

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) was officially requested to facilitate and assist the visit to Ethiopia.

The Team visited and held discussions with Leather Industry development institute of Ethiopia (LIDI). The first day of the visit was allocated to get experiences regarding the leather development policy and support areas of the Government of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Industry Development Strategy in General. The Team was hosted by the Deputy Director General of LIDI and visited the facilities of LIDI in supporting the industry by giving training, research laboratory and technology support. The Institute is giving support to leather sector based on the demand and strategically planned activities.

February 25, 2018

Mr Yi Zhang to receive IUR Research Grant 

The Selection Committee of the IULTCS Research Commission (IUR) is pleased to announce the fourth recipient of the Young Leather Scientist Grant. This monetary award helps support the work of young talent in the leather sector and the IULTCS gratefully acknowledges sponsorship by the Lear Corporation.  The winner of the Euro 1500 grant is Mr Yi Zhang from New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 

In order to enhance its global outlook and to widen its mandate inline with the continental dynamics, for example the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite, AUC Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Gaols(SDG), Rising Consumption of Synthetic based footwear and products, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among other factors, it was proposed to rebrand the LLPI to ALLPI. 

The Board of Directors of LLPI recommended that the institution should in its effort to rebrand reflect its Regional and International status, as stipulated under LLPI Charter 9(6), 27(1) to be known as African LLPI. The Board’s recommendation to rebrand LLPI as Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute was approved by the COMESA Policy Organs Meeting that was held in Lusaka, Zambia, 26th October – 3rd November 2017.

The rebranding of the Institute will give a chance for non-COMESA countries to join ALLPI for the development of their respective leather sector.

Prof. Mwinyihija Mwinyikione, Executive Director of ALLPI, was awarded Honorary Doctoral Degree from Sudan University of Science and Technology on Thursday February 15, 2018.

The University conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa on Mwinyihija Mwinyikione for his outstanding contribution for the development of the leather sector in the COMESA region in general in Sudan in particular.

Prof Mwinyihija holds four PhDs, in Environmental Science (Ecotoxicology and Bioremediation related to the Tanning Industry) at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; DSc in Remediation and Tannery Waste Management from the Atlantic University, USA and two other Doctoral degrees in Management from SMC-University, Switzerland UCN-Nicaragua. He is an internationally recognized Scientist in the field of the leather industry.

Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) Hosts East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) during 22nd -25th January 2018.
The purpose of the Mission was to share from the Ethiopia experience from the perspective of industrial policy implementation.
ALLPI was officially requested to facilitate the experience sharing Mission to Ethiopia of the high-level EAC delegation.
The participants are from 6 countries which represents ECA secretariat, UNIDO representative from Dar-es-Selam, Tanzania and from partner states.

A Team led by Deputy Head of COMESA Coordinating Unit of Ministry of Trade of Sudan Visited Different leather development related institutions in Ethiopia and held a discussion from December 18-22 2017.

The general objective of the visit was to share experiences and create Networking with different institutions focusing on leather development and COMESA related activities in Ethiopia.

The Mission visited and held a discussion with Leather Industry development institute of Ethiopia (LIDI) the first day to get experiences regarding the leather development policy and support areas of the Government of Ethiopia. The Team was hosted by the representative of Director General of LIDI and Visited the facilities of LIDI in supporting the industry like Model tannery, Model footwear factory, model Leather garment and accessories and research laboratory divisions in which the sector supported based on the demand and recommendations.

The African Leather and Leather Products Institute’s (former COMESA/LLPI) Thirty-third Meeting of the Board of Directors was held in Livingstone, Zambia at David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa on 11th – 12th December, 2017. The Meeting was attended by the Board Members from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda and Uganda.

The Board examined the Institute’s January to November 2017 Budget Performance and Work Activities Report as well as the 2018 Proposed Budget and Work Plan. The Board took cognizance of the progress that ALLPI has achieved against its set annual targets that are informed by its Strategic Plan (2016 – 2025) and Annual Plan for 2017. The Board also noted that the Institute’s 2018 proposed Budget and Work Plan that was discussed and endorsed during the 32nd Board Meeting was further approved by the relevant Committee and gained the Council of Ministers endorsement.

COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute, in collaboration with the  Ministère Délégué Chargé du Commerce, des PME, du Tourisme et de la Formalisation and with financial support from the COMESA-RISM Program, held artisans training in Vegetable and Chrome Tanning at I.S.C.A.E. Institute, Djibouti from September 18 to 22, 2017.

The objective of the training  was to offer knowledge and skills in vegetable and mineral tanning at artisanal level and thus change the situation where over the years and until now people are making leather products with unprocessed hides and skins.