The All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association (AISHTMA) will sign agreements with three east African countries – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – to promote trade and investment partnerships in the leather sector.
AISHTMA will sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Tanners Association of Kenya, and Uganda Leather and Allied Industries Association on March 9 in Chennai at a function to mark its Centenary Year.
The MoUs will be signed in the presence of the delegations led by the respective countries’ Industry and Trade Ministers.
“East African countries, which are rich in raw materials for leather sector, are looking to India as a partner for development. They have seen Indian leather industry’s growth in the past four decades – from less than a billion dollar exports level to $6 billion,” said M Rafeeque Ahmed, President, AISHTMA.
The agreements will focus on supporting and coordinating activities related to production of quality hides and skins and manufacture of leather and increased value addition on hides and skins for domestic and export markets. Three months ago, a 10-member leather industry delegation visited the three countries and interacted with government officials about the possible investment and collaboration opportunities to develop the leather industry in their countries.
These developments are part of the framework of ‘Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa’ , a South-South Aid-for-Trade Project implemented by International Trade Centre (2015-2020), and funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).