Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) to Launch the COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy (2025-2029) in this week

The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), is set to officially launch the COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy (2025-2029) at a high-level dialogue workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. The event that will take place on March 27th – 28th, 2025 brings together key industry stakeholders, policymakers, and development partners to shape the future of Africa’s leather industry.

This launch marks a pivotal moment in the implementation of a structured, multi-stakeholder approach that will guide investments, policy frameworks, and industry
partnerships aimed at transforming Africa’s raw leather resources into high-value export commodities. The strategy launch follows the COMESA Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy Validation Workshop that took place on August 13-14, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Further, the strategy emphasizes the need for improved skills, technology adoption, and infrastructure to ensure that the COMESA region can compete effectively on the global stage. The strategy also highlights the importance of sustainability, aiming to create an industry that not only thrives economically but also respects environmental and social standards.

The two-day launch and dialogue workshop will serve as a platform for: government policymakers to align national policies with the strategy’s goals, industry leaders and
investors to explore opportunities for collaboration, leather producers, designers, and artisans to gain insights on value chain development. Academia and research institutions will also have the platform to contribute knowledge on innovation and sustainability.

The Secretary General of COMESA will lead the strategy launch proceeding in partnership with the 21 COMESA Member States Representatives and ALLPI.