As Kenya strives to become an industrialized, middle-income country by 2030, developing the leather and leather goods sector offers an opportunity for industrialization and diversification of exports, according to a new World Bank report. Despite owning a fifth of the global livestock population, African countries account for 4% of world leather production and 3.3% of value addition in leather, the report says. The world trade in leather is currently growing and is estimated at more than $100 billion a year and the demand for leather and leather products is growing faster than supply. For Kenya, the third largest livestock holder in Africa, leather represents a potential area for economic growth and employment. For this to become a reality, there is need to improve the current skills in the market. This is according to a World Bank Report.
