COMMONWEALTH ALLPI REGIONAL LEATHER DESIGN STUDIO
"Empowering African Leather Entrepreneurs through COMSec/ALLPI Regional Design Studio Initiative!"
COMMONWEALTH ALLPI REGIONAL LEATHER DESIGN STUDIO
"Empowering African Leather Entrepreneurs through COMSec/ALLPI Regional Design Studio Initiative!"
The Regional Design Studio Project has got flagship from The 19th COMESA Heads of State and Governments Summit held on 19th of October 2016 in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The Summit decision emphasized the importance of the RDS for the Region and for Africa at large. This will, in turn, gives confidence for member States, stakeholders, and funding partners to fully engage towards realizing the establishment and realization of the RDS.
It is to be recalled that the Establishment of the COMSec LLPI Regional Design Studio was officially launched in May 2016 in Mombasa, Kenya. The RDS was initiated by COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute jointly with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Regional Design Studio Project initiated by Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat was launched on 9th May 2016 at Mombasa Continental Resort, Mombasa, Kenya.
The launching ceremony was graced by Hon. Minister Aden Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Mr. Sinduso Ngwenya, Secretary General of COMESA.
Launching of the COMSec LLPI DesignStudio Website was also part of the event.
The Event was accompanied by a Three day training on leather design.
Read more: The COMSec COMESA/LLPI Regional Design Studio Project Officially Launched
The Regional Design Studio Project initiated by COMESA - Leather and Leather Products Institute in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat was launched on 9th May 2016 at Mombasa Continental Resort, Mombasa, Kenya.
The launching ceremony was graced by Hon. Minister Aden Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Mr. Sinduso Ngwenya, Secretary General of COMESA.
Launching of the COMSec LLPI DesignStudio Website was also part of the event.
The Event was accompanied by a Three day training on leather design.
COMESA/LLPI in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSec) organized a Workshop on the Establishment of a Regional Design Studio for Leather Footwear and Leather Goods. The Workshop was held on September 15-16, 2015 at Jupiter International Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main objective of the Workshop was to discuss on problems of Product Development, Design and Fashion Forecast in the Region and consequently the importance of establishing a Regional Design Studio for Leather Footwear and Leather Goods and how to device mechanisms to setup the Studio.
Partial View of the Workshop
The Workshop was officially opened by Dr. Rashimi Banga, Head of Trade Competitiveness Section, COMSec Headquarters.
Participants were government representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Swazilland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, participants from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Center for World Trade Organization (WTO) Studies and OsanNimu Design Company attended the Workshop.
Dr. Rashmi Banga, Head of Trade Competitiveness Section of COMSec Opening the Workshop
The Workshop attendants from invited Member States also presented "Case Studies" on leather sector value addition activities and design initiatives in their respective countries.
At the end of the Workshop participants agreed the establishment of a Regional Design Studio for Leather Footwear and Leather Goods at Regional level and its satelietes in selected COMESA/LLPI Member Countries.
The full cost of the Workshop was covered by the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSec).
COMESA Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA/LLPI) and Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSec) jointly organized private sector workshop on the establishment of a Regional Design Studio for leather footwear and leather goods was held at Chez Lando Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda from November 10 to 11, 2015.
The workshop was attended by 24 participants drawn principally from the private sector from the State of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda the Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and few from partner organizations. It is to be recalled that similar workshop for public sector representatives, was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in September, 2015.
The Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI, Prof. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija and Mrs. Estella Aryada, Trade Advisor from Commonwealth Secretariat in their welcoming address and opening statement, pointed out that enhancing the design capacity will have a great role to play in unlocking the region’s massive potential in leather sector through improving competitiveness and access to potential high value end markets.
The Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI Giving Opening Remarks
The agenda of the workshop covered a range of very interesting topics related to the importance of design for the development of the leather industry. The need for a strong design and product development backing for competitiveness and access to the multifaceted and fast changing leather fashion industry were discussed. The two days meeting pointed out possible avenues for the establishment of regional design studio and also came up with beneficial recommendation which can positively impact the leather industries of the countries.
Group Picture During the Workshop
The COMESA/LLPI Expert Team led by the Institute’s Executive Director Prof. Mwinyihija Mwinyikione paid courtesy visit to H.E. Mr. Francois Kanimba, Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda, on November 13, 2015 and briefed the Honorable Minister on the workshop objectives and outputs. The team also took the opportunity to discuss on the COMESA/LLPI’s facilitated Rwanda Leather Value Chain Strategy formulation activities and other programs under implementation.
The Experts Team during its stay in Kigali also met and discussed with the top management officials of the Gassibo Community Processing Center, Business Development Fund, Workforce Development Authority and National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NARDA) for enhanced collaborative activities to promote the development of the leather sector in Rwanda.
