Rwanda Leather adds value to exports
According to reports, Rwanda’s only leather firm Rwanda Leather Industry Ltd will finally be able to export finished leathergoods within the next month.
Having bought 15 new leather processing machines from the Netherlands last year, the company expected to be exporting finished products earlier this year. However, until now it has been exclusively shipping raw material to India, China, Hong Kong, Kenya and Italy.
Now that the machines are up and running and staff training has taken place, the company hopes to be able to process around 450,000 skins and 70,000 hides per year. It is planning to produce finished leather for the upholstery, shoe and garment segments.
Countries that have already expressed an interest in trading with the company include Germany, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.
