GOVERNMENT HAS CALLED FOR INVESTMENT INTO NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND SKILLS TO PRODUCE QUALITY LEATHER PRODUCTS FOR THE COUNTRY AND REGIONAL CONSUMPTION.
DEPUTY LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES MINISTER ALBERT MULONGA HAS FURTHER CHALLENGED STAKEHOLDERS IN THE LEATHER SECTOR TO EMBARK ON VALUE ADDITION INITIATIVES IN THE ENTIRE VALUE CHAIN STRESSING THAT LACK OF THIS CAUSES THE COUNTRY TO LOSE MAGNITUDE OF REVENUE.
MR. MULONGA SAYS CURRENTLY, OUT OF THE TOTAL HIDES AND SKIN COLLECTED ABOUT 80% ARE PROCESSED INTO WET GLUE AND EXPORTED FROM ZAMBIA IN THAT FORM STATING THAT FURTHER VALUE ADDITION SHOULD HAVE EARNED THE COUNTRY MORE REVENUE FROM EXPORTS.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCH OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND DISSEMINATION WORKSHOP IN LUSAKA TODAY WHICH HAS DRAWN PARTICIPANTS FROM SIX COMESA MEMBER STATES NAMELY ETHIOPIA, UGANDA, KENYA, SUDAN, ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE.
MR MULONGA ADDED THAT CURRENTLY THE REGION FACES CHALLENGES ESPECIALLY IN THE SMALLHOLDERS FARMING SYSTEM, WHERE FARMERS DO NOT KNOW THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF HIDES AND SKINS.
HE SAYS THERE IS THEREFORE NEED TO EDUCATE FARMERS ABOUT THE VALUE OF HIDES AND SKIN AND PROVIDE INCENTIVES SO THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO PRODUCE QUALITY HIDES AND SKINS.
AND SPEAKING EARLIER COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL STEPHEN KARANGIZI EXPLAINED THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP IS TO DEVELOP INTRA-REGIONAL LEATHER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS TRADE .
THE WORKSHOP ALSO AIMS AT DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL LEATHER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS TRADE BY LINKING SMES TO INDIA AND ITALIAN LEATHER SECTORS AND THEIR IMPORT MARKETS.
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