COMESA-LLPI Conducted a Regional Leather Trade Information Training Workshop for the COMESA Sub-Region and Launched its website

The COMESA/LLPI conducted a Regional Leather Trade Information training workshop here in Addis Ababa, at the Ethiopian Red Cross Society Training Institute, from September 25 to 27, 2012, in collaboration with ITC. A total of 12 trainees from 6 COMESA/LLPI member countries, namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia attended the training. The trainers were from COMESA/LLPI (2 trainers) and ITC (2 trainers).

 The training workshop was opened after the welcoming address of Mr Zewdu Kebede, Acting Director of COMESA LLPI and key note address of Ms Viorela Popescou, ITC consultant. Mr Zewdu Kebede, recalled the objective of the training workshop, which is the usage of network solution, to improve and enhance the backward trade information sourcing, processing and dissemination activities and simultaneously, to officially launch the COMESA/LLPI website. He also added that experience sharing among trainees shall also add value to their exiting knowledge.

Topics delivered in the three days training workshop encompassed the following subjects: Concepts, Issues and New Areas of Information Management, Assessing User Needs and Information Service Capacity, Trade Information Content and Sources, On-line Trade Information Search Techniques, Evaluating Internet Resources, Trade Statistics, International Prices, Market Access, Market Research and News, Trade Contacts and Company Information, Sharing and Disseminating Market Information, Managing Web 2.0 Internet, and the LLPI’s Website’s Trade Information Portal.

Trainees, through the program evaluation questionnaire expressed their satisfaction with the contents and delivery of the sessions, and asked for its continuity in the future. They also indicated their readiness to apply and share the knowledge and skills gained from the present training in their respective work places.

At the closing ceremony of the training workshop, trainees were awarded certificate of attendance and the COMESA/LLPI Website was officially launched. His Excellency Dr Mbuya Isaac G. Munlo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malawi for Ethiopia, AU, ECA and 24 African States, Mr Wondu Legesse, Director General, Leather Industry Development Institute and guest of honor, representing H.E. Mr Tadesse Hiale, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia, and representatives from other Ethiopian Ministries were present at the ceremony.

Ig. Oscar Olaro, representing the trainees, expresses a vote of thanks. His Excellency Dr Mbuya Isaac G. Munlo, Mr Wondu Legesse, Mr Bernard Ancel (ITC consultant) and Mr Zewdu Kebede made speeches at the closing event, all reiterating the importance of such training to boost the Africa’s leather sector international, intraregional and national trade operations.