Kenya: World Bank Survey Calls for Wholesale Leather Market
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Business Daily (Nairobi)
6 July 2008
Posted to the web 7 July 2008
Jim Onyango
A new World Bank-sponsored survey has recommended the establishment of a wholesale leather market to throw into global exposure products manufactured by small and medium enterprises in Kenya.
The report asks the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) to lead the way in speeding up export promotion efforts in specialized leather product fairs and advising manufacturers on quality. It says lack of training in the handling of hides and skin has resulted in the production of poor quality leather.
"To meet the challenges of a dynamic sector, there is need to upgrade skills. The proposed upgrading programme by the University of Nairobi to higher levels needs support to create a critical mass for future development of the sector" says the survey conducted by Agricultural economist Alfred Muthee on behalf of the World Bank.
The ministry of Industrialization says the leather sub sector has a high potential for growth and employment creation if it focused on adding value to the hides and skins produced locally.
"The government under Vision 2030 has identified livestock development and value addition as among the key activities within the agriculture and manufacturing pillars that form the foundation for the attainment of Kenya's long term vision of a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030," said Mr Ndiritu Muirithi, the assistant minister.
According to the survey Kenya's hides and skins measure an average of 25 feet compared to those produced in the US which measure 40ft, in addition to having defects resulting from handling during slaughter of livestock.
Last month, the Chinese government sponsored students from 36 countries, including Kenya, to travel to the Far East country to learn how to turn cattle hides into finished leather using the latest technology.
China has a vast leather technology know-how gained in the last 20 years and is funding students visits to local tanneries as part of its assistance to developing countries. Analysts say Kenya's leather industry needs an injection of new technology.
The sub-sector has not changed or attracted investment over the years although it has the potential of becoming an important source of exports.
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In 2007, Kenya earned Sh143 million from the export of 2.6 million cattle hides, 3.9 million goat skins, 2.5 million sheep skins and 65,000 camel skins.
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