TWO Tanzanian leather companies—Himo Tanners and Fay Fashion—are set to participate in the upcoming Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW), scheduled for April 24–26, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya.

They will be part of a regional delegation of 17 leather businesses specializing in footwear and accessories from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan.

Their participation presents a significant opportunity for business development and international industry exposure.

This move highlights the progress of the EU-funded EU–East African Community (EAC) Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II), implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat and national partners.

As part of its wider efforts, MARKUP II also supported the recent launch of the EAC Regional Quality Awards 2025, building on the momentum from the successful inaugural edition in 2024.

Notably, three Tanzanian companies—CAPS Limited, Said Salim Bakhresa Company Ltd., and Kilombero Sugar Ltd. (Bwana Sukari)—won in various categories last year.

Tanzania, the second-largest livestock producer in Africa, primarily exports raw hides and low-value leather products. MARKUP II aims to reverse this trend by promoting value addition, improving market access, and strengthening the capacity of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in key sectors—including leather, avocado, coffee, packaging, and spices.

The programme covers both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, with a special focus on enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs in selected value chains.