Zambian government pledges to ‘protect and develop’ domestic footwear manufacturing sector
The Zambian government is to review its leather policy to promote development in the local footwear industry, Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Norman Chibamba has disclosed.
Speaking to the national press last week, the minister said the review was aimed at resuscitating the footwear production sector, which had suffered badly in the face of a wave of cheap imports. He had received numerous complaints from within the footwear-producing sector and stated that the review was as much as about protecting the industry as developing it.
"This is an issue that is receiving Government attention. We are trying to look at how best the new policy will benefit the local footwear and leather industry in order to promote real growth,' Mr. Chibamba explained.
During the same interview, the minister expressed his concern at the continuing outflow of cattle hides from the country. In order to safeguard supplies to domestic footwear producers, a proposal had been made to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development calling for higher export duties.
"We have written to the Ministry of Finance to request the introduction of higher fees that will curb the export of those hides that our own footwear producers desperately need." Mr. Chibamba said. The minister went on to warn that the local leather industry would continue to lag behind if stringent measures were not taken to save it.
