Zimbabwe’s leather ‘low-hanging fruit’ for export growth
The CEO of Zimbabwe-based trade body ZimTrade has described the country’s leather sector as “low-hanging fruit” in terms of potential, given its large livestock population and improved infrastructure.
Allan Majuru said the Zimbabwe Leather Sector Strategy (2021-2030), launched in April, will boost production capacities and improve access to regional and international markets.
Writing in Zimbabwe’s Sunday Mail, he added the strategy could increase exports of leather products from 10% to 40% of production.
He said: “Although the focus should be on increasing the national head, there is also a need to concentrate on improving the quality of hides, which opens more opportunities for earning more revenue.
“There is further need for the country to fully utilise its competitive advantage as a supplier of exotic leather and leather products that feed into a global niche market rarely affected by global recessions.”
ZimTrade has been working with the Zimbabwe Leather Collective to promote leather products for domestic and international markets.
