Zimtrade and the Africa Leather Products Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to strengthen cooperation in developing Zimbabwe’s leather industry, promoting value addition and expand export opportunities.
The agreement was signed, yesterday, on the sidelines of the COMESA Heads of State Summit in Harare.
ZimTrade chief executive officer, Allan Majuru, said the partnership would provide opportunities to strengthen the competitiveness of local producers and increase the contribution of leather products to Zimbabwe’s export earnings.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding provides a platform for strengthening cooperation between ZimTrade and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute, particularly in developing the leather value chain and expanding export opportunities,” Majuru said.
He said collaboration between the two institutions could help businesses improve production capacity, meet international market requirements and explore opportunities in regional and international markets.
“By strengthening value addition and supporting local producers, we can enhance the competitiveness of Zimbabwean leather products and ensure that our businesses are better positioned to access export markets,” he said.
The partnership is expected to support efforts to develop the leather value chain, from processing raw hides and skins to manufacturing finished products such as footwear, bags and other leather goods.
The agreement also comes as Zimbabwe pursues industrialisation through increased domestic production, value addition and export growth under its broader economic development agenda.
