ESWATINI’S 1ST LEATHER FOOTWEAR READY TO HIT MARKET

MBABANE – The first batch of leather footwear has been successfully produced from the Kingdom of Eswatini.  This is courtesy of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade’s continued roll-out of the Leather Value Chain Strategy, with the support of the COMESA Trade Adjustment Facility. 

The finalised production follows the completion of a two-week intensive training programme for 36 leather artisans on leather footwear and design at the National Handicraft Training Centre in Ezulwini.

These artisans graduated last Friday. Worth noting is that at least 10 of the artisans who graduated were women and three are physically challenged; in line with strategic pillar number seven of the MSME Draft National Policy.

feasibility

The policy called for the development and improvement of the position of MSMEs owned by women, the youth and other disadvantaged groups.
The Ministry’s Communications Officer, Thabile Mdluli, explained that their policy recognises that women, the youth and people living with disabilities in particular continue to be disadvantaged.

It was observed that this virtually happens in every economic dimension, and that government had not yet been adequately equipped to deal with their specific needs, which provided the reason they had also targeted them through the leather project.

Meanwhile, Mdluli explained that the training on leather footwear and design followed another similar training for 30 leather artisans on leather tanning a month ago.

It was mentioned that the trainings were a direct response to a feasibility study that the MSME Unit, under the ministry, conducted with the support of the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI).

Production

The study uncovered that the kingdom currently has about 0.6 million bovine herds, with an estimated hides and skins production capacity of 220 000, and annual average earnings of E5 million.

“Even though there currently are a lot of micro-enterprises involved in the production of footwear in the kingdom, many of them lack basic skills in production and business management and are isolated. The development of the leather sector, therefore, is a direct response to this need. It is one of the ministry’s key focus areas to attain an economically-viable Eswatini,” Mdluli explained.

 
Mdluli stressed that the ministry endeavours to continue with the leather project and ensuring that all the clusters in the leather value chain are developed and that all the activities in the strategy are implemented.

“We shall also continue to push for enabling and favourable legislations for local content and value addition as well as ensuring that the products meet international standards so that they can be exported,” added Mdluli.

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