Value-added production key to expansion of Zambian leather trade
A survey released last week by the Export Board of Zambia (EBZ) has indicated that the country’s leather trade could expand if it were given better access to regional markets and the availability of hides was improved.
Sponsored by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the survey also highlighted the need for more affordable credit among producers, greater levels of technical assistance for leather producers, and better access to chemicals produced in Europe.
The survey said the leather trade had the potential to significantly contribute to Zambian foreign exchange through the production of leather goods. However, the government would first need to create a climate in which farmers were encouraged to sell on their raw hides for value-added processing. It also said that leather producers would need to step up their research and development and marketing efforts, so that their products could become more competitive on the global market.
The Zambia economic report for the year 2000 indicates that leather and leather products contributed K39.1 billion ($10.7 million) to the country’s economy in 1997, K42.2 billion in 1998, K44.8 billion in 1999 and K46.6 billion in 2000.
