The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has launched a leather value chain strategy aimed at enhancing regional industrialisation.
Unveiled in Nairobi, the 2025-2029 strategy seeks to shift the region from exporting raw materials to producing value-added leather products.
COMESA's Secretary General, Chileshe Kapwepwe, highlighted its focus on skills development, SME support, innovation, and sustainability to improve global competitiveness and job creation.
Member states were urged to adopt policies favouring regionally produced leather goods to stimulate investment and reduce reliance on imports. Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Trade, Juma Mukhwana, emphasised the need for increased intra-African trade, noting that while Africa accounts for 17 percent of the global population, it contributes less than 3 percent to global manufacturing.
The strategy aims to maximise the use of the 42 million hides and skins produced annually, reducing the region’s $1.1 billion footwear import bill and supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
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