SADC LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER REGIONAL LEATHER FORUM

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Posted by admin on July 23, 2025 at 5:22 AM

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The Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the German Government, has officially launched its inaugural Regional Leather Forum, a landmark initiative aimed at unlocking the region’s leather value chain through policy harmonisation, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.

Zimbabwe’s historic industrial hub, held in Bulawayo, the Forum convened over 50 stakeholders including policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and private sector leaders from across the region.

 Strategic Objectives of the Forum Align regional policies and regulations to streamline trade, assess progress on the SADC Leather Regional Model Policy Framework, promote innovation and investment in leather production and processing and facilitate seamless cross-border trade and regional integration.

SADC Senior Programme Officer for Value Chains Calicious Tutalife, emphasized the Forum’s role in advancing industrialisation through stakeholder engagement

Acting Director in Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mary Chingonzoh, called for sustained public-private collaboration to elevate leather into a high-value industry.

Anchored in the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063), the Forum aims to shift the region from raw material exports to value-added manufacturing, boosting job creation, export competitiveness, and regional resilience.

Presentations from the African Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and updates from Member States on national implementation efforts added depth to the discussions.