By HELEN ZULU –
THE Copperbelt Leather Industry Cluster Limited has acquired equipment worth US$86,000 to produce quality leather products for the export market.
The equipment from Italy is expected in the country during the first quarter of 2016.
Cluster coordinator Preston Viswamo said the machinery ordered through the ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry would enable the cluster to produce quality products for the international market.
Mr Viswamo said in an interview in Lusaka that once installed, the equipment would enable the cluster to start producing standard leather products to compete at the international level.
“The $86,000 equipment is expected to arrive in the country in the first quarter of 2016. Once installed, we will start the production and branding process; we want our products to be branded like other international products,” Mr Viswamo said.
He said the cluster was targeting to start exporting products to other countries within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region in the next two years.
Mr Viswamo said currently, the cluster was only able to meet local market demand for leather products, adding that the equipment would help them produce enough to meet both local and international market requirements.
“With help of the Zambia Development Agency and COMESA/Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI), we will in the near future start exporting our products to other countries within the COMESA region,” he said.
Mr Viswamo further disclosed that COMESA/LLPI was putting up a design studio in Ethiopia to help COMESA member countries improve on the design and standards of leather products to meet international standards.
He said the design studio would help member States produce quality leather footwear both for the local and export markets at affordable prices.