Nairobi, Kenya– 16th October 2025: The East African Business Council (EABC) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in developing the leather and leather products sector in the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regions.
The MoU, signed by Mr. Adrian R. Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, and Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe, Executive Director of ALLPI, establishes a framework for cooperation aimed at enhancing policy advocacy, investment promotion, research, capacity building, and information exchange to boost the competitiveness of the regional leather industry.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr. Njau emphasized that the partnership aligns with EABC’s mission to promote a conducive business environment and deepen regional integration through private sector–led growth. “The leather sector holds immense potential for value addition, job creation, and export diversification across the EAC. Through this MoU, we aim to address policy bottlenecks, improve standards, and enhance trade and investment in the sector,” he said.
Delivering remarks, on behalf of Executive Director of ALLPI, Mr. Michael Kiraye reaffirmed ALLPI’s commitment to leveraging its technical expertise to support the sustainable development of the leather value chain. “This partnership with EABC is an important step in bridging the COMESA and EAC regions through innovation, knowledge sharing, and enterprise competitiveness. Together, we will promote trade and investment while empowering SMEs, women, and youth in the leather industry,” he noted.
Under the MoU, the two institutions will collaborate in the following key areas:
- Joint Policy Advocacy: Addressing regulatory and trade barriers affecting the leather sector.
- Research and Knowledge Exchange: Conducting studies on competitiveness, market access, and value chain development.
- Capacity Building: Organizing training workshops for stakeholders on standards, investment, and sustainability.
- Investment and Market Promotion: Facilitating B2B linkages and trade missions within and beyond Africa.
- Cross-Cutting Issues: Promoting gender parity, youth empowerment, and sustainable production practices.
The MoU will remain in effect for five years and will be reviewed annually to ensure alignment with emerging regional priorities. Both parties also agreed to jointly mobilize resources to implement actionable programs for the benefit of businesses in the leather sector.
This partnership underscores the shared vision of EABC and ALLPI to transform the regional leather industry into a globally competitive and sustainable value chain contributing to economic growth, industrialization, and regional integration.
About EABC: The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and corporates in the East African Community (EAC), advocating for a conducive business environment and facilitating intra-EAC trade and investment.
About ALLPI: The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), a specialized institution of COMESA, is mandated to support and develop the leather sector through capacity building, research, technology transfer, and investment promotion across the region.
