The final beneficiaries are around 2 500 workers of the leather tanning and leather product manufacturing companies in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The initiative is sponsored through funding from Sadc (Southern African Development Community), ZimTrade and Solidaridad; it should stimulate job creation, reduce the environmental impact of leather processing, and create market links for leather products at national, regional and international levels. [Bulawayo launches leather industry support project- The Chronicle]
Bulawayo is today witnessing the launch of the Support to Industrialization and Productive Sectors (SIPS) project aimed at promoting innovative green solutions for the leather sector in Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
Industry and Commerce permanent secretary, Dr Mavis Sibanda will launch the projectwhich is expected to be attended by leather industry executives, representatives from ZimTrade, Solidaridad and Sadc.
“The leather industry is an important strategic sector for the industrial development ofboth Tanzania and Zimbabwe as well as the Southern Africa region,” reads part of thedocument on the project.
The region has an abundant and renewable resource base in its relatively largepopulation of cows, sheep and goats but this potential remains largely untapped due to alack of investment and several sector-wide constraints.
These include poor quality of hides due to traditional based animal husbandry practices,old and polluting technologies in both tanning and leather manufacturing industries,poor market connectivity and regional integration.
“These constraints contribute to a lack of competitiveness and value additionopportunities in the face of a globalised leather value chain with increasing social andenvironmental standards,” reads the document.
The industrial support programme is expected to avail funding to that which will assistthe sector for about two years through Sadc and the project will be implemented bySolidaridad Network SA trust and Solidaridad East and Central Africa.
“The objective is to promote green innovative solutions in the leather sector of Tanzaniaand Zimbabwe and create market linkages for leather products at a domestic, regionaland international level,” reads the document.
“Target groups are mainly 15 SME tanneries, 10 from Zimbabwe and five from Tanzania,30 SME leather product manufacturers (10 Zimbabwe and 20 Tanzania) and 15 clusters of 250 individual micro-leather enterprises”.
The final beneficiaries are around 2 500 workers of the leather tanning and leatherproduct manufacturing companies in Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Indirectly the whole tanning and leather industry in Southern Africa will benefit fromthis project.
The net scope of results covers reduction of tannery waste and production costs andadditional income generation from waste to value products, compliance withinternational market standards leading to enhanced competitiveness and supplies ofbetter standard leather products at competitive rates.
