The 8th Regional Leather Sector Core Team Meeting was held at the Hotel African Ltd, Kampala, Uganda from 29th to 30th January 2014.
The Meeting was attended by Dr. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, COMESA/LLPI Executive Director, representative from African Union Commission, 15 Core Team Members from both public and private sectors from Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and 5 participants from host country invited to participate as observers.
After the welcome address by the Chairperson RLSCT Ms Nalina, Dr. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, COMESA/LLPI Executive Director and Ms Victoria (Chairperson of the Uganda leather Association) gave opening statements. The meeting was opened by Dr Mutambi, Commissioner representing the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. Dr Mutanbi in his opening address stressed the importance of Core Team Meeting as it represents the interests of stakeholders in the entire COMESA region.
The Agenda Items discussed during the meeting included Adoption of the Agenda, Report/Minutes of the RLSCT-7 and Matters Arising, Promoting Regional Value Chains in the Leather Sector By Participatory Approach, COMESA-Regional Integration Support Programme II (RISP II) and its Assistance to Member States through LLPI and the Affiliation created, COMESA – Leather and Leather products Institute Activities for Improving the Regional Leather Value Chains, COMESA SMEs Technical Committee: Experiences and Challenges, the African Union Commission (AUC): African Industry and Trade programme with emphasis on the Leather Sector, Technical Advancement in Footwear Marketing and Country Presentations.
The recommendations that emanated from the two days meeting emphasized on establishing the requisite legal, regulatory and institutional framework to support leather sector development and putting in place programs to accelerate the development of the value for the region’s huge natural resource (hides and skins), build competitive production systems and reduce reliance on leather products imports.