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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 51670, member: 636"] European Union cash has transformed Zimbabwe's leather game with a massive equipment donation worth 150,000 Euros. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa delivered high-tech design studio gear to the Leather Institute of Zimbabwe during a recent ceremony. Minister Judith Ncube attended the handover event and praised the new facilities for boosting local manufacturing capabilities. The European Development Fund bankrolled the entire project as part of a continent-wide leather industry upgrade. Regional officials expect the studio to catapult Zimbabwean leather products into international markets. Small leather businesses have struggled for years without proper design tools and standard patterns for their products. The new studio gives local manufacturers access to professional equipment they could never afford individually. Providence Mavubi from Comesa declared the facility will help artisans create world-class leather goods that meet global standards. Zimbabwe currently ships over 90 percent of its raw animal hides overseas instead of processing them locally. The design center aims to reverse that trend by encouraging domestic leather production. Clement Shoko from the Zimbabwe Leather Development Council wants government contracts for military and police boots. He believes the design studio can help local companies win lucrative deals with uniformed forces across the country. The leather sector ranks among ten priority value chains under the National Development Strategy. Shoko requested a presidential declaration guaranteeing domestic suppliers exclusive access to security force contracts. The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute continues working on additional manufacturing plants for the expanding industry. [/QUOTE]

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