by Patience Rashai

Zimbabwe is set to revamp the country’s leather sector with Pakistan following engagement with the country as the country moves to improve its exports receipts, under the energizing exports initiative spearheaded by Zimtrade.

Zimtrade last week met with His Excellency Izzat Ahmad, Ambassador of Pakistan to Zimbabwe, and agreed on strengthening of trade opportunities between the two countries.

“Having realized that Zimbabwe is home to quality processed leather, which Pakistan’s leather manufacturing sector requires, we realized an opportunity for a ready market which Pakistan is also ready to take up,” said Zimtrade Export Development Manager, Tendai Marume.

“The leather industry has over the years been abandoned due to non-viability of the market. As such this prospect of having an available market for our products also means more players can come onboard.”

Zimtrade said that having witnessed several farmers rearing to export gave them the much needed energy to increase engagements with targeted markets. Knowledge transfer to farmers is crucial to increasing Zimbabwe’s exports and linking them with potential international market.

Exports of hides and skins have fallen in recent years to below four percent, yet leather is ranked very high as an export commodity in several African countries, with the countries’ tanning capacity having fallen from 9,2% to 6,8%.

The trading board also added that efforts to beneficiate leather so that Zimbabwe exports finished products are also underway.