COMESA to Launch Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy in Nairobi
The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), is set to unveil the COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy (2025-2029) during a high-level dialogue workshop in Nairobi on March 27-28, 2025.
The event will bring together key industry stakeholders, policymakers, and development partners to drive the transformation of Africa’s leather industry.
The new strategy aims to address critical challenges in the COMESA leather sector, including outdated technology, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to finance.
Despite the region’s vast livestock resources 670 million animals, including 356 million cattle, 384 million sheep, and 438 million goats its contribution to global trade in leather footwear remains at a mere 0.4 percent .
The strategy seeks to bridge this gap by promoting value addition, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning Africa as a leader in the global leather market.
The COMESA region plays a vital role in the leather industry, contributing 11percent of the global livestock herd and 16 percent of the world’s hides and skins. However, its presence in the global trade of hides and skins fluctuated from 6.81 percent in 2021 to 4.6 percent in 2022, underscoring the need for a structured approach to industry development.
The upcoming launch marks a pivotal moment in aligning investments, policy frameworks, and partnerships to transform Africa’s raw leather resources into high-value export commodities.
The COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy builds on the insights gathered during the Validation Workshop held in Nairobi in August 2024. It focuses on improving skills training, technology adoption, and sustainability to ensure that African leather products meet global standards.
The two-day event will serve as a crucial platform for Government policymakers to align national policies with the strategy’s objectives,Industry leaders and investors to explore collaboration opportunities,Leather producers, designers, and artisans to gain insights into value chain development and Academia and research institutions to contribute knowledge on innovation and sustainability.
The Secretary General of COMESA, alongside representatives from 21 COMESA Member States and ALLPI officials, will preside over the launch.
ALLPI’s Commitment to Leather Industry Development
Established in 1990 and endorsed by 17 Heads of State from COMESA member countries, ALLPI has been instrumental in driving growth and competitiveness in Africa’s leather sector. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and training initiatives, the institute is dedicated to enhancing value addition, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable practices within the industry.
With the launch of the COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy (2025-2029), ALLPI reaffirms its commitment to unlocking Africa’s full potential as a global leather powerhouse.
By Sharon Atieno
