About COMESA - Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI)

About LLPI

The COMESA/Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI) headquartered in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, was established by the signing of the Charter by COMESA Member States in
Mbabane, Swaziland on 23rd November 1990 in order to promote productivity, competitiveness,
trade and regional integration in the leather sub-sector through the provision of the following key
services:

1. Human resources development,

2. Investment and trade promotion,
3. Research and development,
4. Consultancy and extension and
5. Information collection and dissemination.

Our Mission

The COMESA/LLPI mission is to contribute to the sustainable development, competitiveness

and integration of the COMESA leather sector while operating as a technical institution and a
center of excellence in leather and leather products processing and manufacturing technology.

Contact Information

Contact: The Director

Telephone

251-1-431318-20

FAX

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251-1-431321

Postal address

P.O. Box 2358 Code 1110

Electronic mail

comesa.llpi@telecom.net.et

Member Countries

COMESA/LLPI membership is open to all members of COMESA. The current members are:
Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,
Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

COMESA/LLPI operates as a separate legal institution with a Board of Directors currently

consisting of seven members from Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.

Activities

COMESA/LLPI activities fall into two broad areas of core and co-ordination activities:

CORE ACTIVITIES

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEATHER SECTOR

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COMESA/LLPI is a regional institution whose main objective is to develop the leather sector of
the region through helping the private and public leather industries to improve production,
marketing and trade by providing technological and information inputs, mobilising investments,
rehabilitation programmes and pooling and development of relevant capacities and capabilities.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

The Institute conducts training of operators, technicians, in the whole spectrum of the leather
industry, including hides and skins improvement, leather manufacturing technology, leather
finishing technology, leather goods design and production, quality control and effluent
treatment. A number of courses lead to diplomas and certificates. Short-term courses are aimed
at upgrading skills. Workshops and seminars are conducted to disseminate and exchange
information.

INVESTMENT AND TRADE PROMOTION

COMESA/LLPI activities address investment and trade promotion for private sector
development and solicit bilateral and donor funding for programmes for the business community
to take maximum advantage of regional as well as international integration, cooperation and
trade.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research activities encompass enhancement of national research and training, institutional,

process and product development including leather products, chemicals, machinery, equipment
and auxiliaries, standardization and quality control, effluent treatment and pollution control.

CONSULTANCY AND EXTENSION

Consultancy and extension services are aimed at promoting investments and trade through

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suitable studies and surveys.

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION

COMESA/LLPI is the regional center for the collection and dissemination of information on
hides, skins, leather and leather products and acts as a regional trade promotion centre. It could
establish regular follow-up with member States and constant contact with international
organisations and donors.  The enhancement of this web-site is a part of the Institute's
information networking objective.

CO-ORDINATING ACTIVITIES

COMESA/LLPI co-ordinates national and regional training, research and information

programmes; assesses regional manpower, technology and training needs; and addresses
gender issues within the leather sector.

Within the region there are a number of institutions and programmes associated with
COMESA/LLPI. For example COMESA/LLPI Country Units facilitate co-ordination and
co-operation on agreed programmes.

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