The COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute in collaboration with KLDC and other partner organizations launched a project entitled “Greening SMEs Leather Clusters and Leather Tanning Industry in Kenya- Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production Practices and Eco-entrepreneurship” on 18 September, 2015 at the Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
The project was developed as part of COMESA/LLPI’s endeavor to promote sustainable consumption and production practices and Eco-entrepreneurship in the development of the COMESA region’s leather sector.
Participants of the workshop included officials and experts from different public Institutions (Ministry of Industrialization, KLDC, KIRDI, NEMA, Bureau of Standard), private sector that encompassed tanners, footwear manufacturers, leather sector associations, United Nations organizations (UNOPS, UNEP) and COMESA/LLPI. A total number of 41 participants attended the workshop.
The workshop was opened with participants self introduction and welcome address by Mr. Charles Ndungu, Ag, CEO of KLDC. Mr. Ndungu in his welcome address gave an overview of what the project is all about and its role in helping to produce leather and leather products in environmentally friendly manner. He said that the project will help to develop a road map for sustainable development of the Kenyan leather sector and called stakeholders to provide their unreserved support for its realization.
Then, Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe, Project Coordinator and Cluster Expert from COMESA/LLPI, presented the details of project activities and expected major outcomes. This was followed by remarks from Ms. Rhoda Wachira from UNEP, Mr. Simon Nganga (Regional SME Committee Chairman), Mr, Nalina Rupani (Regional Leather Sector Core Team Chairperson), Mr. Zewdu Kebede (Programs Coordinator from COMESA/LLPI representing the Executive Director Prof. Mwinikione Mwinyihija), all appraising the importance of the project in the country’s efforts to develop the leather industry in an environmentally friendly manner.
The guest of honor, Mr. Joseph Kirlagat from the Ministry of Industrialization and Economic Development officially launched the Project after thanking partner organizations and COMESA/LLPI for their support and making a highlight on the Kenyan Industrial Development Agenda guided by the Country’s Vision 2030, the Ministry’s developed 5 point strategy and the fitting of the project to the country’s development plan. Ms. Beatrice Mado Olanlio, representing the Leather Goods Manufacturers Association gave a vote of thanks.
On the second day (September 19, 2015) COMESA/LLPI Experts, Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe (Cluster Expert and Project Coordinator) and Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam (Leather Value chain Expert) gave training at KLDC headquarters to 10 KLDC staff on project implementation details.