The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has launched its Regional Leather Value Chain Strategy for 2025–29, aimed at turning the region’s leather sector into a globally competitive and sustainable industry.
The strategy was revealed at a launch event in Nairobi, Kenya. COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe said the roadmap would support industrialisation, job creation and economic growth across the bloc’s 21 member states, which together have a population of more than 640 million and a combined GDP exceeding US$1 trillion. The region produces over 42 million hides and skins annually and accounts for 34.3% of Africa’s leather output, but most are exported raw or semi-processed due to limited local processing capacity.
The strategy prioritises capacity building, skills development, technology adoption and sustainable tanning practices, with a strong focus on boosting value addition and intra-regional trade. COMESA estimates that local leather production could create thousands of jobs and generate significant revenue, while reducing dependence on imports.
Key measures include encouraging member states to adopt procurement policies that favour regionally produced leather footwear, particularly for uniformed services, and promoting greener production through cleaner tanning technologies and circular economy approaches. In support of manufacturers, the Africa Leather & Leather Products Institute is exploring the establishment of a regional trade house to supply processing inputs and aggregate leather products for large domestic and intra-African orders.
Kenya’s cabinet secretary for investment, trade and industry, Lee Kinyanjui, said the initiative marks a major step towards sustainable industrialisation and improved livelihoods across COMESA member states.
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