Chronicle EditorJudith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Government has said the Support to Industrialisation and Productive Sectors (SIPS) Project that was launched on Friday in Bulawayo will benefit the leather sector and the entire economy by enhancing business growth, job creation, competitiveness and improved quality of leather products.
The SIPS Project which is aimed at promoting green innovative solutions targeting the leather sector in Zimbabwe and Tanzania, is being sponsored through funding from Sadc and its partners.
The Sadc Secretariat manages the €18 million Joint Action SIPS, financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube officially launched the national Solidaridad Sadc support to SIPS leather value chain capacity building project for tanneries, SMES, including women and youth, in Bulawayo.
“The leather industry is an important strategic sector for the industrial development of Zimbabwe as well as the southern Africa region.
This launch comes at a time the Government is implementing the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and has identified priority value chains that will assist in spurring the industrialisation process.
“The Leather Value Chain was identified among the priority value chains, under-scoring its importance in national economic development.
The development of the leather sector has the potential of enhancing economic inclusion and ensuring the participation of a wider spectrum of society.”
In a speech read on her behalf as guest of honour, Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary Dr Mavis Sibanda said their Ministry was tasked with the mandate to facilitate industrialisation through formulation and implementation of policies and interventions aimed at producing value added goods and services thereby moving the economy up the value chain and fostering a structurally transformed economy.
“Notably, the Government appreciates Solidaridad’s investment of US$500 000 towards promoting green innovative solutions in the leather sector.
This will create market linkages for leather products at a domestic, regional and international level.”
Dr Sibanda said the overall objective of the project was to promote green innovative solutions in the leather sector and create market linkages for leather products at a domestic, regional and international level.
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