ALLPI attended the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP) Project Steering Committee 2nd meeting that was held from 17th -18th August 2022 at Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia, that discussed the progress to date of the implementation of the RECAMP and TAF activities and the 2022 Annual Work plan.
More than 30 participants from COMESA Secretariat, Implementing Partner institutions and COMESA member States attended the meeting. ALLPI was represented by Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam, Advisor to the Executive Director.
The meeting started with Dr Dev Haman’s, (Assistant Secretary General -Admin and Finance, COMESA) welcome address and opening statements given by the European Union Representative and Mr. Ali Daoud, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, Republic of Djibouti (the Guest of Honour). During the two days meeting, progress reports and 2022 planned activities were presented by each implementing partner and Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) beneficiary member States that were followed by question-and-answer sessions and general discussion. The ALLPI representative, Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam presented the ALLPI progress report on the implementation status of the here below indicated four RECAMP activities that are facilitated by ALLPI, in which fourteen COMESA countries (Burundi, DR Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) took part.
- RECAMP Activity 1.1.1.4: Strengthening the human and institutional capacity of Member States in certification of eco-friendly leather products in line with global development
- RECAMP Activity 1.1.1.5: Building the capacity of participating Member States and regional focal persons on application of standards for leather value chains including the designing of leather finishing processes and Leather Products, which meet regulatory and safety standards of the markets.
- RECAMP Activity 1.1.1.6 : Capacity building of member States on Hides and skins traceability systems in line with global developments
- RECAMP Activity 2.2.1.3: Review of the Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy (2012-2016) with the aim of developing the new Strategy
The meeting was concluded with seven key recommendations that will constitute the next plan of action to successfully complete the planned RECAMP activities before end of December 2024 (end of the project period).
