Tunisia Shares Leather Industry Expertise with African Nations

Tunisia is actively sharing its expertise in the leather sector with several African countries, particularly in the fields of tanning and the manufacturing of footwear and bags. According to the Tunisian Agency of Press (TAP), a recent initiative with Chad highlights the value of this cooperation in enhancing product quality and aligning it with international market standards.

Expertise Sharing at the WTO Forum

Aïssatou Diallo, Executive Director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Secretariat at the World Trade Organization (WTO) since February 2026, discussed this experience on the sidelines of the WTO Public Forum, held in Geneva from September 15 to 17.

While Tunisia is not classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC) and therefore does not directly benefit from the EIF, it participated in an expertise-sharing initiative with LDCs in Africa seeking to develop their leather value chains.

Addressing Quality Challenges in Chad

Chad is among the countries benefiting from this cooperation. Its leather sector faces significant challenges, particularly regarding finishing and overall product quality—factors that are critical for accessing international markets.

With funding from Italian cooperation, Chadian leather artisans traveled to Tunisia to leverage the expertise of the National Leather and Footwear Center. The training program focused on:

Tanning techniques
Manufacturing processes for shoes and bags
Improving the quality of raw leather to better meet the specific requirements of the Italian market

This initiative successfully utilized Tunisian expertise to support the quality upgrade of a leather value chain in another African country. Aïssatou Diallo described this as a prime example of South-South cooperation, emphasizing the importance of expanding such partnerships and strengthening experience-sharing between Tunisia and other African nations.

The Role of the EIF and AfCFTA

The EIF also supports the national implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol dedicated to women and youth.

About the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF): The EIF is a global development program and multipartite partnership under the auspices of the WTO. Its primary goal is to help Least Developed Countries (LDCs) better leverage trade and investment as drivers of growth and sustainable development.

Tunisia’s Export-Oriented Leather Sector

This cooperation comes at a time when Tunisia’s leather industry is heavily oriented toward exports. According to the latest data from the Tunisian Investment Promotion Agency (APII):

Industry Size: The sector comprises 171 companies employing at least 10 people.
Export Focus: 129 of these companies are fully export-oriented.
Employment: The sector provides over 30,700 jobs.
2024 Performance: Leather sector exports reached 2.18 billion TND, achieving an import coverage rate of 163.9%.
Key Market: Italy remains a major destination for Tunisian leather products.