The COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute sponsored training of SMEs in footwear designing was successfully conducted at the Training Common Facility Centre, in Kampala Uganda from 27 November 2013 to 31 January 2014 in collaboration with Footwear and Leather goods manufacturers and Exporters Association of Uganda(FLEMEA).
A total of 20 artisans, four females and 16 males from small and medium enterprises involved in leather footwear manufacturing attended the training. The aim of the training was to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs through equipping them with theoretical know how and practical skills in footwear design.
Teaching methods were primarily focused on hands on training that enhanced the skills of participants and provided them with a solid foundation to be competitive and more productive. The footwear samples that were made during the training and exhibited at the graduation ceremony were witnessing this fact. Graduation Ceremony and Handing over of certificates were held at Hotel African Ltd, at the opening event of the Eighth Regional Sector Core Team Meeting, on January 28, 2014. The training focused mainly on producing back to school shoes, as the demand of such products is estimated at 8 million pairs per annum.
It is fundamental to note that for these artisans to grow and expand their business operations there is a need to support them with access to machinery and also to quality inputs especially leather and other accessories. The shortage of leather has made footwear production in Uganda relatively expensive, there is therefore a need to find a mechanism of reducing such costs.
COMESA/LLPI congratulates graduates on their successful completion of training program, and renews its commitment for capacity building in human resource development for the leather sector value addition in the COMESA region.