The leather sector is considered as a sector with high export potential for Moroccan industry, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, stressed on Thursday in Casablanca.
This sector is capable of allowing the development of Moroccan employment and craftsmanship, Mr. Elalamy said at the opening of the 8th edition of the international leather exhibition “MOROCCOUIR”, which is being held from 27 to 29 February, under the theme “The regional declination of leather ecosystems: an opportunity for development and growth of the sector in high potential markets”.
Mr. Elalamy stressed in this regard that HM King Mohammed VI has placed great emphasis on the country’s traditional trades in order to develop them and give them a chance to integrate into globalization, noting that ecosystems in the leather sector have begun to bear fruit.
The minister also noted that the skills of Moroccan professionals in the sector remain at the service of neighboring countries in Africa, offering them both proximity and the most competitive products and services.
He then welcomed the presence of young people operating in the leather sector to make it a “real flagship” of Moroccan industry.
For his part, the president of the Moroccan Federation of Leather Industries (FEDIC), Hamid Ben Rhrido, said in a statement to MAP that the leather sector plays a very significant role in the national economy both socially and in terms of exports.
Stressing the importance of this sector in daily and economic life, Mr. Ben Rhrido, who was elected Wednesday at the head of the Confederation of African Leather Industries (COAFRIC), said that this year’s show, whose guest of honor is the Republic of Ivory Coast, brings together 100 national and international exhibitors.
This year’s edition, whose kick-off was attended by several political, economic and diplomatic personalities, is marked by the official launch of COAFRIC in the presence of more than 15 operators representing 15 African countries. The role of this Confederation will be to promote the leather sector at the African level and to create trade and investment synergies between African leather manufacturers.
More than 80 exhibitors from 10 countries are participating in this major event in which more than 5,000 professional operators of the sector are taking part. Spread over an area of 3600m² within the International Exhibition Hall, this show also organizes 7 thematic conferences on various topical subjects such as financing, industrial zones and fashion.
The leather sector represents one of the most important links in the Moroccan industry and economy. This sector, which has 300 companies employing 18,000 people, achieved an export turnover of more than 4.2 billion dirhams (MMDH) in 2018. To ensure its development, an industrial strategy is dedicated to it within the framework of the Industrial Acceleration Plan based on 3 leather ecosystems set up and operational, namely Leather Footwear, Leather Goods and Clothing and Tannery and Megisserie.
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