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EAC Region Losing Export Earnings Due to Low-value Addition of Horticulture & Leather Products
Thursday 8th October 2020, Arusha, Tanzania: East African partner states are losing out billions of dollars by inadequately investing in adding value to horticulture and leather
goods produced in the region and not addressing bottlenecks derailing growth in the sectors.
This follows findings from a report launched by the East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration with GIZ Program, ‘Support to East African people-centred and market-driven co-operation’ titled, ‘Building the Leather, Fruits and Vegetable value chains in the East African Community’.
The report finds that the region provides a good resource base for the production of hides and skins, having over 188.1 million livestock (cattle, sheep and goats). Despite East
Africa currently having a monthly demand of about 600,000 pairs of industrial shoes (security, safety, industry), production is only about 60,000 shoes per month.
The report indicates that the EAC region processes leather up to wet blue stage with a minimal transformation to finished leather. On the international market, the price of
finished leather costs about US$5 per square feet (ft²), while the wet blue is sold at US$1.5 per ft². This suggests that the EAC, which exports mainly wet blue, loses as much as
US$3.5 per ft². This implies that the EAC in effect lost close to US$3.2 billion in the last 4 years, (from 2014-2018).
Speaking during the launch of the report, EABC CEO, Dr. Peter Mathuki noted from the report findings, that the leather industry has protracted due to the high presence of
imported used footwear as well as synthetic shoes.
“These imports are priced way below the production costs of local producers, thus reducing the market for a sector that is still not getting adequate financing,” he said.
The report also finds that there is a huge opportunity for increasing economic growth in the horticulture sector as exports of manufactured goods remain limited. The report finds that most farmers have limited finances for capital investment and to purchase inputs. Inadequate processing facilities close to the sources of their produce has also deterred the region from fully exploiting the potential of the sector.
“Appropriate infrastructure for marketing and proper post-harvest handling can tremendously reduce losses that horticulture farmers face in the region, “said Dr. Mathuki.
The report recommends for EAC partner states governments to abolish import tariffs and Value Added Tax on imported seeds and seedlings plus other inputs. This as well as
lowering jet fuel taxes, reducing the high cost of power tariffs for horticultural farmers, trade facilitation, elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers and ratification of the EAC Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) Protocol and opening up of EAC skies for cargo flights.
Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki, Executive Director /Chief Executive Officer
East African Business Council (EABC)
9th Floor Mafao House | Old Moshi Road | Arusha | Tanzania
P. O. Box 2617 | Tel: +255 27 2520162
Email: admin@eabc-online.com I Website: eabc.info
EABC – The Voice of the Private Sector in East Africa
About East African Business Council: The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 6 East
African countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community. EABC vision is a borderless
East Africa for business and investment. The primary mission is to promote sustainable private sector driven in the EAC.
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