Lobatse leather park seeks investors for further phases
The long awaited Leather Industry Park (LIP) in Lobatse, Botswana, is now seeking interest from candidates for the second and third phases of the venture.
Facing delays due to project reconfiguration, in addition to a decline in the national cattle herd, the initial plan for five 10-tonne daily capacity tannery units has been consolidated into one. The park will process leather to internationally recognised audit standards as well as effluent discharge to local standards BOS 93-2012 and BOS 463.
In his inaugural budget address, Entrepreneurship minister, Karabo Gare told Parliament that the first phase of the project had started and activities such as fencing of the plot and construction of access roads would be undertaken soon.
With the aim of processing hides and skins into finished leather, and stimulate the development of leather products manufacturing in Botswana, prospective investors for phase II and III are now being sought.
The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) has called for prospective investors for phase II with technical experience and capabilities in processing tanned hides to crust or finished leather and for phase III, investors are sought with experience and capabilities in manufacturing leather goods.
“Employment creation, domestic growth and import substitution are amongst the expected outputs of the project whose completion is anticipated in early 2025.” Said Mr Gare.
