Leather industry a priority

With a livestock resource of 33 million head, Mongolia can supply ten million hides and skins every year. This comprises five million sheepskins, two million goat skins, 600,000 bovine hides and 1000,000 yak hides. The domestic tanning industry is able to process about 70 per cent of this supply and offers a variety of leathers from wet-blue to crust and finished - as well as leather products. The leather industry has been identified as a priority area by the Mongolian government with a programme which includes the following: improving the management and health of livestock, extending industrial slaughtering, restricting the export of raw hides and skins and promoting the export of value-added products. During the past three years, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation - GTZ - has worked with the government to implement a supportive programme for the sector. Its objective is to help companies improve their technology, their employees' skills and promote their products on the international marketplace. Mongolia's first participation at APLF this year was a result of this collaboration which aims at the revival of the Mongolian leather sector and regaining its historical place in the international market.