HONG KONG, Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Organisers of MM&T 2016 are delighted to announce the presence of a new group pavilion at MM&T 2016. The pavilion will be from Zimbabwe and so far includes five companies that will exhibit their leathers and leather products at the trade fair. These enterprises are:
MM&T boasted 27 national pavilions in 2015 and Zimbabwe will now join this number for the 2016 event. The fact that national associations -- some supported by official (government) subsidies -- opt to exhibit at MM&T as a unit, indicates the importance and reputation that MM&T has developed in the context of the international leather industry since its launch in 1984.
Zimbabwe will now be present for the first time as a national unit. It is interesting to note that the background to the decision to exhibit on the international stage offered by MM&T in Hong Kong has its roots in the United Nations.
Background and Information on Zimbabwe's Leather Industry
The International Trade Centre (ITC), a UN agency, conducted in Zimbabwe during 2013 and 2014 a key development project called Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (TPSDP) funded by the European Union.
One of the various beneficiary industries was the leather industry. The main purpose was the improvement of Zimbabwean hide quality, particularly focused on skinning and conservation techniques. Ralph Arbeid, the ITC consultant, developed in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Leather Development Council (ZLDC), which is the focal point of the Zimbabwean leather industry's Small & Medium Enterprises (SME's), two training booklets. These were published in English and translated into the local Shona and Ndebele languages of which some 1,500 copies were distributed throughout the country to butcheries, abattoirs and traders.
In addition, Ralph held four training workshops in rural areas and donated 200 professional flaying knives purchased in South Africa from Jarvis, and then distributed by the ZLDC to rural butcheries, who provide for the majority of hides in the country.
The whole project was coordinated directly with private enterprises without Government intervention making it as efficient as possible. The first results are now emerging with a Chinese buyer recently visiting Zimbabwe and Turkish technicians assisting the tanneries to improve the tanning quality.
Difficulties to overcome
The coordinator of the EU-ITC programme is Bruno Van Eeckhout. He is aware of the great losses suffered by the sector in Zimbabwe, which are still making it difficult for the companies to remain operational and competitive.
The leather sector is valued at about US$450 million per year according to statistics from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) but with many companies operating at capacities of between 40% and 70%, it is difficult to realise even this estimated value. There are 49 footwear manufacturing companies which use leather, and that are now at operational capacities of 25% to 40%.
The programme has been assisting the sector by organising workshops as well as implementing a national hides and skins grading system, aimed at improving the quality of the raw materials for leather goods. Training is also being provided to farmers, butchers and traders in improved animal husbandry, better flaying techniques and improved conservation techniques for cattle hides.
The EU funding can help ameliorate all these characteristics of the leather sector in Zimbabwe but can do little or nothing to break the drought caused by El Nino climate phenomenon that has plagued southern Africa over the last year, killing crops and livestock. In the Zimbabwean province of Matebeleland South the national livestock department estimates that so far 350,000 head of cattle have perished due to lack of pasture and water, out of a national herd of 5.3 million animals.
Nevertheless, the El Nino phenomenon is expected to cede by June / July this year and the returning rains will be much welcomed not only in Zimbabwe but also in other regional latitudes hit by drought.
The steps forward being taken by Zimbabwe's leather industry with the advent of international aid plus the presence of the country's main tanneries on MM&T's trade platform in March / April will place the country firmly on the map of the international leather business and start generating badly needed foreign exchange for the economy over the coming months and years.
Notes to Editors
About APLF Limited
APLF Ltd is a joint venture between SIC Group and UBM Asia. For over two decades, Hong Kong-based APLF Ltd has been providing the global leather and fashion industries with its most important meeting and trading place.
About SIC Group
SIC Group has been organising international professional events since 1926 for companies working in the leather sector. Its role is to support businesses in their development and offer them work platforms in areas of the world with high potential. With nine shows organised each year, SIC Group and its partners can take advantages of expertise that is unique in the world.
About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest trade show organiser in Asia and the largest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 24 major cities with 31 offices and 1,300 staff. UBM Asia operates in 20 market sectors with 230 dynamic face-to-face trade exhibitions and associated print/online products for over 2,000,000 quality sellers and buyers from all over the world. Most recently, UBM Asia was awarded 'Asia's Most Reliable Trade Show Organiser Award' in Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies Awards (HKMVCA) 2016.
About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM plc is a leading global events-led marketing services and communications company. UBM helps businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online and in print. 5,000 staff located in more than 20 countries are organised into specialist teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. Running over 400 events per year UBM is the second largest exhibitions organiser globally and the biggest commercial tradeshow organiser in the US, mainland China, India and Malaysia.
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Email: Perrine.Ardouin@ubm.com
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