A Workshop on the formulation of a Strategy for Ethio-International Footwear Cluster Cooperative Society Ltd (EIFCCOS) that was organized and fully sponsored by COMESA/LLPI, took place at the Ethiopian Management Institute, Addis Ababa, from July 10-11, 2014. The formulated Strategy would be used as a tool of transforming EIFCCOS into a first-class Cluster with a broader Regional and International orientation.

The Government of Zimbabwe has stepped up measures to curtail the exportation of raw hides by introducing a US$0,75 export tax on every kilogramme of raw hide in a move that is expected to boost value addition in the leather industry. During the past 10 years, the leather sector has been failing to absorb all raw hides and skins that are produced leading to more hides being exported from Zimbabwe in their raw form. In 2011 alone, a total of 5 440 tonnes of raw hide including crocodile skins worth US$28 million were exported. Read More

The COMESA Leather and Leather Products Institute organized a unique Workshop  titled  “Regional Leather Cluster Capacity Building: The Triple Helix Approach” in collaboration with the COMESA Secretariat and the EU-RISP program. This workshop, one of its kind related to the Leather sector in the region, was successfully held at CRESTA Loge in Harare, Zimbabwe from 18 to 19 June 2014.

COMESA/LLPI says the country should utilise trade opportunities in the global leather and shoe industry by expanding and promoting home grown industries.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) Executive Director Mwinyikione Mwinyihija made the remarks on Friday in Lilongwe during the graduation of 40 small and medium entrepreneurs who were undergoing training in the leather industry. Read More

The COMESA/LLPI’s 26^th Board of Directors meeting was held from June 5 to 6, 2014 at Sunbird Capital Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi. The Meeting started by electing a new Board Chairperson to replace the outgoing Chairperson, Dr. Charles Moturi. Mr. Tobias Mulimbika Mirza,  who is the Director of Industry in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in the Republic of Zambia, was duly elected as a new Board Chairperson.

Leather products tops Sudanese exports and that the country is ranked 30th among leather producing countries with tons a year. However, the leader industry has declined over the past years due to various problems. In an interview below, Dr. Abdel-Rahman Al-Asyouti, former expert and chemist at Tannery Institute, speaks of problems that have contributed to the deterioration of Sudanese leather products and industry in Sudan. Read More

The Regional SME Technical Committee Meeting, that was fully sponsored by COMESA Leather and Leather Products Institute was conducted, at City Hill Hotel, Bujumbura-Burundi from 29th – 30th April 2014. The Regional Technical Committee had the mandate to monitor, promote awareness and provide input on SME matters of interest to COMESA/LLPI and its Board of Directors on a timely basis.

The Regional Validation Workshop on COMESA Monitoring and Evaluation Policy and Guidelines was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 8th -11th April 2014. The objective of the workshop was to validate the draft COMESA M&E Policy Framework and draft COMESA M&E Guidelines.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (Minicom) on Friday launched a leather processing factory in Kabarore Sector, Gatsibo District, Eastern Province. 

Star Leather Products Company (SLPC), that manufactures shoes, belts, jackets and other leather products is the first of its kind in the country.

The event was presided over by the Minister for Trade and  Industry, Francois Kanimba, who said the plant would benefit the whole country. Read More

A delegation from the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) headed by Mrs Nigest Haile, Founder and Executive Director of CAWEE, visited COMESA/Leather and Leather Products Institute on May 7, 2014 to discuss collaboration. Dr Mwinyihija Mwinyikione, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI, and other COMESA/LLPI Experts participated in the discussion.