Rwanda's Leather SMEs Receive Advanced Footwear Design Training to Target Institutional Markets

Kigali, Rwanda – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda's leather sector are participating in a specialized training program aimed at enhancing their footwear design and product development capabilities. The initiative, held at the Masaka Business Incubation Center in Kigali, is a collaborative effort between the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), as part of the EU-funded Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II).

The intensive week-long workshop equips twenty selected entrepreneurs with the skills needed to create market-responsive products and add significant value to their offerings. The training, led by experts from ALLPI, focuses on practical areas such as strategic material sourcing, market research, and adapting designs to meet specific consumer demands.

A primary objective of the program is to empower these SMEs to design and manufacture products for institutional buyers. In a hands-on session, participants formed groups to develop brand concepts and prototypes for items with high local demand, including military boots, school shoes, and formal executive shoes for the army.

Mr. Kamayirese Jean, the chairperson of the Rwanda Leather Value Chain Association, opened the session by thanking ALLPI and ITC for the opportunity and encouraging the trainees to fully commit to absorbing the knowledge provided. The program is seen as a critical step in promoting local content and strengthening the overall competitiveness of Rwanda's leather industry.

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