The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) have strengthened its position as a key participant in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). On 20 November 2025, the Corporation dispatched two containers of Wet Blue Hides from the Okapuka Tannery to Mombasa, Kenya, marking its first export under the AfCFTA framework.
Meatco recently secured a Kenyan client who will process the hides into finished leather on a trial basis. This initial shipment will undergo quality verification and is being traded under AfCFTA’s non-tariff provisions. As part of the trade protocols, the client requires the full declaration of the hides’ country of origin in line with the Certificate of Origin requirements.
According to Ambassador Albertus Aochamub, Meatco’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, this development is a significant milestone for both Meatco and Namibia, contributing to the practical implementation of a market valued at USD 3.4 trillion and representing more than 1.3 billion consumers across the continent.
“There are still logistical challenges that we hope to address swiftly; however, this is a positive step in advancing our intercontinental trade aspirations and expanding the leather value chain within Africa. Our continent is endowed with vast natural resources, and increased intra-African trade will generate wealth for all participating countries,” Ambassador Aochamub said.
He added that he is optimistic about future market opportunities across the continent: “I hope that more African markets will open up, enabling our hides to reach broader, more competitive markets.”
