The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
ITALY based organisation, New Concept of Leather (NCL) has expressed commitment to assist Zimbabwe’s leather industry reach its full potential through working with local partners.
NCL is an innovative leather value adder based in Avellino, Italy and produces finished products from wet blue. It imports raw materials from a number of African countries including Nigeria and Ethiopia. Speaking in an online presentation on the Italian Leather Industry- Lessons and Opportunities for Zimbabwe, NCL founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Paolo Vietri said Italy had vast experience in the leather value addition and could assist Zimbabwe.
“Italy has vast experience in the leather value addition and can assist Zimbabwe become a major player in the international leather sector. Italy can assist by knowledge and technology transfer, unlocking access to international markets. NCL expresses its commitment to assisting Zimbabwe’s leather industry to reach its full potential and will be interacting with all appropriate partners,” said Mr Vietri.
He said that internationally, Zimbabwe’s leather tends to be classified as lower grade, compared to other international sources.
Mr Vietri said it was important for Zimbabwe to acknowledge that aspect as the country could then ensure it creates a relevant direction that unlocks value both short and medium term. He advised that the country should consider putting all its efforts in value addition, coming up with a number of finished products, as opposed to exporting partially processed raw materials.
“By exporting finished products, the end international market is not concerned with the quality of the original raw materials. Products that can be produced to the international standards include shoes, leather accessories like belts, gloves and leather clothing like jackets. As production is implemented for the above products, the country can then be implementing a medium-term strategy of empowering small scale animal farmers so that they appreciate the value of skin hides. This will then lead to improved quality of Zimbabwe leather,” he said.
The presentation was hosted by the Zimbabwe National Gazelles, a flagship programme that aims at identifying and accelerating high growth of entrepreneurial Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) selected from all the country’s 10 provinces.
Kukura Business Accelerator (KBA) and Zimbabwe National Gazelles programme senior consultant, Mr Edward Meda said for the leather industry to thrive Zimbabweans had to pay particular attention at strengthening livestock farming.
“KBA has interest in the livestock production industry and for the leather industry to thrive we have to pay particular attention at strengthening livestock farming. Zimbabwe’s livestock population has been depleted in recent years. KBA is working with the National Gazelles who are in agriculture to enhance their livestock populations and quality,” said Mr Meda.
To assist small scale and rural farmers on livestock feed, he said they were working with external partners who will start farming moringa and alfalfa (lucerne) in the country resulting in the production of high value livestock feed.
Mr Meda said this would help National Gazelles and other livestock farmers to access high value stock feed direct from producer at reduced prices.
He said the presentation was valuable in that it boosted interest not only for those who are processing leather but also the animal producers.
“There is need for the leather processers to interact with animal producers and help them to know the importance of quality in the whole value chain.”
The Zimbabwe National Gazelles programme is in line with the international trend of identifying the top six percent entities in various jurisdictions that have the potential to scale up and create large scale employment both upstream and downstream.
There are 50 Gazelles and the number will increase to 100 with the 2021 intake coming on board in November 2021.
The presentation was attended with representatives from various organisations including ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe-Italy Friendship Association, The Leather Industry Association, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) and ZB Bank, who are a key partner to the Gazelles Programme. The Government was represented by the Zimbabwe Embassy Team headed by the country’s Ambassador to Italy, Ms Mietani Chauke.
