SADC Hosts Regional B2B Leather Workshop in Bulawayo to Drive Industrialisation and Integration

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the German Government, is currently hosting a two-day Business-to-Business (B2B) Workshop from 23–24 July 2025 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The high-impact event brings together stakeholders from across the leather industry to foster innovation, forge strategic partnerships, and accelerate industrial development across the region.

Held under the theme “Accelerating Regional Integration: Building Sustainable Partnerships for Leather Value Chain Transformation,” the workshop aligns with key regional frameworks, including the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063) and the SADC Leather Regional Model Policy Framework.

The primary goal of the event is to boost regional cooperation and investment in the leather value chain while building a sustainable, competitive, and inclusive industry. Key objectives of the workshop include:

• Promoting high-value addition and improving regional competitiveness
• Harmonising production standards and trade policies across member states
• Enhancing private sector engagement and encouraging sustainable business models in the leather sector

Participants at the workshop represent a wide cross-section of the industry, including manufacturers, tanners, designers, retailers, financiers, policymakers, and business support organisations from various SADC Member States.

Beyond the formal sessions, the program includes site visits to local leather companies, tanneries, and manufacturing facilities in and around Bulawayo. These tours are designed to give participants firsthand exposure to innovative practices, operational challenges, and opportunities for scaling regional production and trade.

A dedicated exhibition area has also been set up, showcasing leather products, services, and innovations from businesses across the region. This platform allows companies to promote their brands to a broader audience, network with potential partners, and explore market expansion opportunities.

This B2B workshop represents a pivotal step in realising SADC’s broader vision for inclusive industrialisation. By encouraging collaborative action and supporting the transformation of the leather industry, SADC aims to unlock regional value chains that can contribute significantly to job creation, economic diversification, and sustainable development.

As the event unfolds in Bulawayo, it signals a renewed commitment to strengthening regional integration and ensuring that Southern Africa’s leather sector thrives in both local and global markets.