India seeks new African leather sources
A leather delegation from India is planning to visit Ethiopia and Kenya from October 29 to November 2 in order to look for new raw material sources.
Preparations are being made by Indian Missions and UNIDO in the two African nations as well as by ESALIA (the Eastern and Southern Africa Leather Industries Association).
According to the Indian Council for Leather Exports (CLE), the country’s leather industry must find new areas from which to source raw materials – such as wet blue and crust leather – if it is to meet its $7 billion export target by 2010-11. India currently produces two billion sq. ft. of leather, just half the quantity required by the industry target.
The CLE is targeting Africa as its livestock population is strong, with Ethiopia and Kenya amongst the largest leather, hides and skins producers across the continent.
