A high level delegation from the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya, represented by Prof. Ndirangu Kioni, Vice Cancellor; Prof. (Eng.) Paul M. Wambua, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Dr. Douglas Onyancha Department Chairman have visited COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) from October 23 to 26, 2014 to establish collaborative activities and share experience required to effectively and efficiently run leather technology related programs and activities at their University.
Dr Mwinykione Mwinihija, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI, welcomed the delegates and expressed his absolute delight to institute collaborative activities with the Dedan Kimathi University as COMESA/LLPI is mandated to spearhead leather sector development activities in the region.
As part of the delegation’s visit program, COMESA/LLPI also made necessary arrangements for visits to different institutions and enterprises working in the leather sector in Ethiopia. This covered the Ethiopian Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI), Awash Tannery, Fonatanina Shoe Factory, Ethio-International Footwear Cluster Cooperative Society and the Addis Ababa University-Institute of Technology. The delegates met and discussed with the representatives of the institutions during their visits and agreed to start cooperative activities in the months to come.
At the wrap-up meeting held at the COMESA/LLPI Board Room, Prof. Ndirangu Kioni, indicated that the results of the visits were beyond his expectation and expressed his very gratefulness to COMESA/LLPI for the overall organization of the program and his hope to continue to enjoy close collaboration in the future.
Finally, an MoU was signed between COMESA/LLPI and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, and both institutions showed keen interest to further strengthen the links and organize visits in both directions.