Kenya: used leather imports banned
The Ministry of Industrialisation in Kenya is formulating policies to ban the importation of second-hand leather products to the country, local media has reported. The ministry is also working on a policy that will ban exportation of raw hides as it seeks to develop and grow the local leather industry.
Industrialisation assistant minister Nderitu Muriithi said that the local leather sector faces immense competition as it lacks a sound platform for growth, which the ministry would like to develop and make it more competitive.
“Part of the challenge is the tax levied on imported second-hand leather goods which makes local leather development very uncompetitive,” Mr Muriithi said.
He said once they are able to control the inflow of imported used leather products, it will give the ministry fresh impetus to invest more funds in growing the leather industry.
The Industrialisation Ministry has identified gaps that have worked to deny leather stakeholders critical income. The challenges range from poor hides and skin quality, low value addition services and lack of a government policy for the sub-sector.
“From a ministry point of view we believe the policy paper is sound and expect that it should be in place before the end of the year,” Mr Muriithi said.
Africa’s earnings from the leather industry currently stand at $1.5 billion.
Mr Muriithi spoke during the launch of Livestock Development Council’s (LDC) Strategic Plan 2011-2015.
LDC CEO Dr Mwinyikane Mwinyihija said the plan would help the value addition chain of the leather sector and get the most out of the industry.
“We have defined the value addition chain and we know exactly where the constraints are and there we will move with greater urgency in making our hides and leather products more competitive,” Dr Mwinyihija said.
