Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.

08/07/2025

Wet Blue Leather: A cornerstone of the leather industry

Wet blue leather is an indispensable component of the leather industry, serving as a vital intermediate product in the production of leather goods. Its unique properties, economic significance, and versatility make it a cornerstone of the global leather trade. Understanding the value of wet blue leather reveals its essential role in the industry and its contribution to sustainable practices and innovation.

When raw animal hides are processed and tanned using chromium sulfate, the result is wet blue leather, an early stage in leather production. This process makes hides resistant to decomposition while maintaining their natural flexibility and softness. The leather derives its name from the characteristic bluish hue from the chromium compounds used during tanning. The chromium tanning process preserves hides and extends their shelf life, allowing manufacturers to transport and store them for further processing.

Wet blue leather is used for various finished leathers, such as full-grain, corrected-grain, and split leather. It is compatible with a wide range of dyes and finishes, enabling manufacturers to meet diverse consumer demands.

The stabilization achieved during the wet blue stage enhances the leather’s durability, making it suitable for products that require strength and resilience, such as footwear, upholstery, and automotive interiors.

Wet blue leather retains its softness and moisture content, making it easy to handle and process in subsequent stages, such as splitting, shaving, dyeing, and finishing.

Economic Importance
As a semi-processed product, wet blue leather facilitates the division of labor within the leather industry, where tanneries can focus on tanning raw hides while other facilities specialize in finishing processes. This supply chain efficiency reduces costs and boosts productivity, particularly in countries where leather processing is a major economic activity.

Wet blue leather supports global trade by enabling manufacturers to export semi-processed hides to regions with advanced finishing capabilities. This international collaboration enhances the quality and variety of leather goods available worldwide.

Sustainability Considerations
While chromium tanning has been criticized for its environmental impact, wet blue leather production has seen significant advancements in sustainable practices. Many tanneries now adopt closed-loop systems, recycling chromium and treating wastewater to minimize pollution. Vegetable-tanned leather, derived from plant-based tannins, offers a biodegradable and chemical-free alternative to chromium tanning. Companies like Kirobe promote this option alongside wet blue leather, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable products. Kirobe has a vegetable leather product line for export.

Wet blue leather is foundational for crafting durable and flexible leather for shoes and boots; upholstery for furniture and automotive interiors; jackets and fashion accessories like bags, belts, and wallets.

Wet blue leather bridges the gap between raw hides and finished leather, enabling efficient production and contributing to the global economy. As the industry continues to evolve, innovations in wet blue leather processing and sustainability will play a crucial role in meeting the demands of consumers while protecting the environment. Its enduring relevance underscores its importance as a cornerstone of the leather industry.

For experienced assistance in importing wet blue leather from Tanzania, contact Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.
• Managing Director: Mr. Daudi Wangwe
• Phone: +255 684 349 475
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:

13/02/2025

According to a report by Tantel, Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Tanzania's long-term issuer ratings to B1 from B2, with a shift in outlook to stable from positive. In addition, Tanzania is projected to be among the top African countries for GDP growth in 2024, with an IMF forecast of 6.1% growth,

As an investment company and exporter of agricultural products, Kirobe is part of the success story being written in modern Tanzania.

Tantel Holdings is a private holdings company since 2017 with diversified interests. Source:https://www.tantelholdings.com/

For experienced assistance in exporting agricultural products from Tanzania, contact Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.
• Managing Director: Mr. Daudi Wangwe
• Phone: +255 684 349 475
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:

30/01/2025

Wet Blue Leather: Driving Efficiency and Innovation in the Leather Industry

The leather derives its name from the characteristic bluish hue from the chromium compounds used during tanning. The chromium tanning process preserves hides and extends their shelf life, allowing manufacturers to transport and store them for further processing.

Wet blue leather serves as a foundation for producing various finished leathers, such as full-grain, corrected-grain, and split leather. It is compatible with a wide range of dyes and finishes, enabling manufacturers to meet diverse consumer demands.

For experienced assistance in exporting wet blue leather from Tanzania, contact Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.
• Managing Director: Mr. Daudi Wangwe
• Phone: +255 684 349 475
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:

Kirobe Investments is involved in buying and selling of agricultural and livestock products within and outside Tanzania; and provision of field training through sensitization and awareness programs, seminars and workshops on animal husbandry.

21/01/2025

Wet Blue Leather: A cornerstone of the leather industry

Wet blue leather is an indispensable component of the leather industry, serving as a vital intermediate product in the production of leather goods. Its unique properties, economic significance, and versatility make it a cornerstone of the global leather trade. Understanding the value of wet blue leather sheds light on its essential role in the industry and its contribution to sustainable practices and innovation.

When raw animal hides are processed and tanned using chromium sulfate, the result is wet blue leather, an early stage in leather production,. This process makes hides resistant to decomposition while maintaining their natural flexibility and softness. The leather derives its name from the characteristic bluish hue from the chromium compounds used during tanning. The chromium tanning process preserves hides and extends their shelf life, allowing manufacturers to transport and store them for further processing.

Wet blue leather serves as a foundation for producing various finished leathers, such as full-grain, corrected-grain, and split leather. It is compatible with a wide range of dyes and finishes, enabling manufacturers to meet diverse consumer demands.

The stabilization achieved during the wet blue stage enhances the leather’s durability, making it suitable for products that require strength and resilience, such as footwear, upholstery, and automotive interiors.

Wet blue leather retains its softness and moisture content, making it easy to handle and process in subsequent stages, such as splitting, shaving, dyeing, and finishing.

Economic Importance
As a semi-processed product, wet blue leather facilitates the division of labor within the leather industry, where tanneries can focus on tanning raw hides while other facilities specialize in finishing processes. This supply chain efficiency reduces costs and boosts productivity, particularly in countries where leather processing is a major economic activity.

Wet blue leather supports global trade by enabling manufacturers to export semi-processed hides to regions with advanced finishing capabilities. This international collaboration enhances the quality and variety of leather goods available worldwide.

Sustainability Considerations
While chromium tanning has been criticized for its environmental impact, wet blue leather production has seen significant advancements in sustainable practices. Many tanneries now adopt closed-loop systems, recycling chromium and treating wastewater to minimize pollution. Vegetable-tanned leather, derived from plant-based tannins, offers a biodegradable and chemical-free alternative to chromium tanning. Companies like Kirobe promote this option alongside wet blue leather, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable products. Kirobe has a vegetable leather product line for export.

Wet blue leather is foundational for crafting durable and flexible leather for shoes and boots; upholstery for furniture and automotive interiors; jackets and fashion accessories like bags, belts, and wallets.

Wet blue leather bridges the gap between raw hides and finished leather, enabling efficient production and contributing to the global economy. As the industry continues to evolve, innovations in wet blue leather processing and sustainability will play a crucial role in meeting the demands of consumers while protecting the environment. Its enduring relevance underscores its importance as a cornerstone of the leather industry.

For experienced assistance in exporting wet blue leather from Tanzania, contact Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.
• Managing Director: Mr. Daudi Wangwe
• Phone: +255 684 349 475
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:

29/12/2024

Testing and certification export requirements for cassava grown in Tanzania

Exporting cassava from Tanzania involves meeting stringent testing and certification requirements to ensure compliance with international quality and safety standards. These requirements vary from country to country and the form of cassava being shipped (e.g., raw, dried chips, flour, or starch). An outline of the most common requirements follows:

1. Quality and Safety Standards
• Moisture Content:
Products like dried cassava chips or flour must adhere to specific moisture content limits to prevent spoilage during transit.
• Aflatoxin (toxic compounds produced by certain mold) Testing:
Exported cassava is tested to ensure aflatoxin levels remain below internationally accepted thresholds.
• Cyanide Testing:
Cassava naturally contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can release toxic cyanide. Testing ensures that cyanide levels are within safe limits.
• Microbial Testing:
Processed cassava flour or starch must be tested for microbial contamination.
• Pesticide Residue Testing:
Many importing countries require compliance with maximum residue levels for pesticides.

2. Processing and Packaging Standards
• Packaging Requirements:
Exported cassava must be securely packaged to prevent contamination and moisture intrusion and comply with food safety regulations in the destination country.
• Labeling:
Accurate labeling including product name, origin, weight, and relevant safety certifications is required. Nutritional information or allergen disclosures may also be required.

3. Phytosanitary Certification
• Phytosanitary Inspection:
Exporters must secure a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Tanzania Plant Health Services (TPHS), or the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS). Specific phytosanitary requirements vary by country.

4. Standards and Certification
• Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS):
The TBS ensures cassava products meet both national and international standards through rigorous testing.
• Food and Drug Authority Certification (FDA):
For cassava destined for food industries, certification from Tanzania's FDA confirms the product’s safety for consumption.
• International Certifications:
Additional certifications may be required based on the export market.

5. Market-Specific Testing Requirements
• European Union (EU):
Products must meet EU be in compliance with the General Food Law and Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Strict limits apply to contaminants and pesticide residues.
• United States:
Cassava exports must comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for cyanide content, pesticide residues, and microbial safety.
• Asian Markets:
China and Japan have specific protocols, including stringent checks on moisture content, quality, and safety for cassava-based products like starch. Thailand requires confirmation that the cassava flour is free from pests and diseases, compliance with the Thai food standards and labeling regulations, and Thailand's standards for contaminants.

6. Export Documentation
• Certificate of Origin:
Issued by the Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce, this document verifies the cassava’s origin.
• Commercial Invoice and Packing List:
These documents detail shipment specifics, including product type, quantity, and weight.
• Bill of Lading:
Required for sea or air transport, this serves as proof of shipment.
• Export License:
Exporters must obtain a license from authorities such as the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) or the Ministry of Agriculture.

7. Customs Clearance
• Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI):
Some countries require pre-shipment inspections to ensure cassava complies with local regulations.
• Customs Declarations:
Detailed declarations must be submitted to Tanzanian customs, outlining the nature and quantity of the exported goods.

Weather and Harvesting in Tanzania
Cassava harvesting in Tanzania is not strictly tied to the rainy season due to cassava’s drought tolerance. However, harvest timing often aligns with agricultural cycles to avoid wet conditions or maximize post-harvest processing opportunities during the dry season.

Summary
Exporting cassava from Tanzania involves strict compliance with quality, safety, and phytosanitary standards. Exporters must ensure destination-specific requirements are met, secure necessary certifications, and provide accurate documentation to facilitate smooth trade operations.

For experienced assistance in exporting cassava from Tanzania, contact Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.
• Managing Director: Mr. Daudi Wangwe
• Phone: +255 684 349 475
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:

22/12/2024

Cassava: A Versatile Crop for Human Consumption and Industrial Applications

Cassava, also known as manioc, yuca, or tapioca, is a root crop native to South America, now widely cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. Renowned for its drought tolerance, cassava is a staple food for millions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its versatility allows it to serve both as a key source of nutrition and a valuable resource for industrial purposes.

Uses in Human Consumption
Cassava is primarily cultivated for its starchy tubers, which provide a vital source of carbohydrates, especially in regions facing food insecurity.
Flour Production: Cassava roots can be dried and milled into flour, a popular gluten-free alternative to wheat flour used in baking. It is commonly incorporated into recipes for bread, cakes, and pastries.
Tapioca Products: Tapioca, a starch extracted from cassava, is widely used as a thickening agent in puddings, sauces, and soups. Tapioca pearls, a popular derivative, are essential in beverages like bubble tea and various desserts.
Culinary Staples: In West Africa, cassava is a cornerstone of traditional dishes such as fufu and gari. Fufu is a dough-like dish made from boiled and pounded cassava, while gari is a fermented, grated, and fried form of cassava widely consumed in the region.
Animal Feed: Cassava byproducts, such as peels and leaves, are often repurposed as livestock feed, while cassava roots are also utilized in compound feeds for animals.

Industrial Applications
Cassava's high starch content makes it a valuable resource for numerous industrial purposes.
Bioethanol Production: Cassava is increasingly used as a feedstock for bioethanol, providing a renewable energy source for countries aiming to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Paper and Textile Manufacturing: Cassava starch acts as a binding and stiffening agent in paper and textile production, enhancing product durability and quality.
Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics: In the pharmaceutical industry, cassava derivatives are used in tablet production. They are also employed in cosmetics, where they function as stabilizers and thickeners in creams, lotions, and powders.

Other Notable Uses
Protein-Rich Leaves: Cassava leaves, rich in protein, are consumed as vegetables in various African and Southeast Asian cuisines. They are prepared through boiling, fermenting, or sautéing.
Gluten-Free Foods: Cassava-based products are essential for creating gluten-free food options, catering to individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Biodegradable Plastics: Cassava starch is increasingly being used to produce biodegradable plastics, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.

Conclusion
Cassava is a versatile crop with applications that span from ensuring food security to supporting sustainable industrial practices. Its adaptability to diverse growing conditions, combined with its wide range of uses in human nutrition and industry, underscores its significance in global agricultural and economic development.

For experienced assistance in exporting cassava from Tanzania, contact Kirobe Investments Company Ltd.
• Managing Director: Mr. Daudi Wangwe
• Phone: +255 684 349 475
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook:

Kirobe Investments is involved in buying and selling of agricultural and livestock products within and outside Tanzania; and provision of field training through sensitization and awareness programs, seminars and workshops on animal husbandry.

07/09/2024

Kirobe skins and hides for export

To increase supply volumes and improve the quality of skins and hides it provides to clients, Kirobe Investments has focused on building the capacity of its suppliers and farmers. The company estimates that up to 25% of the skins and hides produced at slaughterhouses in Tanzania are wasted due to poor quality and the farmers’ lack of value added skills.

Training farmers has become essential, as many view their animals primarily as a source of meat, disregarding the value of skins and hides. Farmers often neglect proper care for the animals' hides, leading to issues like skin marks, tattoos, insufficient spraying, and traditional bloodletting practices, which degrade the quality.

Kirobe has launched extensive animal husbandry training at both the ward and village levels, particularly in livestock-holding regions. With support from local government extension staff, the company has trained thousands of farmers in best practices to improve the quality of their skins and hides.

Kirobe Values:
• Making markets work for the poor
• Equal opportunities for men and women
• Integrity among staff and business partners
• Open-door policy for suppliers and business partners
• Commitment to environmental responsibility

For more information, contact Daudi Wangwe, Founder & Managing Director, at +255 684 349 475 or [email protected]. You can also follow Kirobe Investments Company Limited on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirobeinvestmentscompany/?viewas=100000686899395

10/03/2020

Rwang’enyi Trail
Our path to health

After two hours shuffling along this red dusty trail, steadily climbing, the Rwang’enyi dispensary is barely visible on the sparsely shaded mount. The silent weight in my sling, adds to my burden. I worry as we move onward under the hot Tanzanian sun. The child is ill and needs help that I cannot give. I shuffle along. Help is near.

For thousands of people living in remote villages a few kilometers from Lake Victoria in Tanzania, the Rwand’enyi dispensary is all that there is to ease the pain, combat infections, prevent disease, and help with birthing. The dispensary was built with money from The Health Basket Fund, a sector wide approach to health care.

Rwang’enyi is in Nyamtinga Ward, Rorya District in Mara Region, south of the Town of Shirati. The ward has a population of just over 11,000 and Rorya has over a quarter million. In a rural area, serving people engaged in small scale fishing, livestock husbandry, and small businesses, alongside peasants growing cassava, sorghum, maize, and beans, the dispensary is a critical community resource. If you consider that children are treated more than others for malaria, diarrhea, upper airway diseases, worms, and skin fungal infestations, you may be inclined to declare the dispensary a vital community resource.

Rwang’enyi cannot sustain the dispensary building in peak working order. The dispensary has insufficient resources to grow its business with many hundreds annually walking great distances, some up to 18km, to get medical help. Roads are untreated trails. There is no electrical grid serving the dispensary, the water supply is captured rainwater, and there is no full-time doctor. Three full-time nurses paid by the national government staff the dispensary. There is no refrigeration, but a solar panel cools a vault for storing vaccines.

The people of Rwang’enyi know that the path to better health is the creation of sustainable businesses and enough personal income to contribute to the maintenance and staffing of the dispensary. A full-time doctor is a dream. Nurses provide most of the medical services.

There is a way to sustainable health care for many low-income families who pay what they can to use the services of the dispensary. There is a way with a little help from friends.
Small-scale cattle farmers work with Kirobe Investments to prepare hides for export. The same product is used in the village to manufacture women’s sandals and men’s shoes for local retailers in nearby towns and cities. Some make it to markets as far away as the port city of Dar es Salaam. All are hand crafted using 19th and 20th century skills and technology. The revenue feeds families, provides shelter, and sends children to school. The product to make the footwear comes from the land. A few people engaged in shoe making were asked if they would share a little of their income to maintain and grow the dispensary. Without hesitation, they said yes, but without sales of their products, there is nothing to share.

Handmade sandals and shoes can be shipped through Kirobe Investments to many countries. Revenue generated by sales would go back to the shoemakers with a portion of every sale directed toward the maintenance of the dispensary and its development.

Most of the shoemakers are middle-aged men and women. Those who don’t use the dispensary are discouraged by the dusty trail. This is the common story of Okelo Kimoko, Okelo Kitende, Wilikista Opiyo, Richard Muhinda, and Machage Ogaga.

The villagers have benefited from government assistance and they know that aid can help a little, only. For sustainable development to occur, they need to sell products that are needed and can be used now. Kirobe and the village is reaching out to people on social networks who may have experienced success with similar enterprises. They want to hear your story so the people of Rwang’enyi can learn from you and sell a lady’s sandal or man’s shoe to help build their path to health.

Please like and share this post with your network. The stories we seek may be a click away.

01/02/2020

Building a network of micro businesses to manage the Rwang’Enyi Dispensary based on the three pillars of sustainable development

Kirobe Investments and the village of Rwang’Enyi petitioned the Tanzanian government to provide money through The Health Basket Fund to construct a building for a dispensary. This is the good news. The challenge is that the village has no way to sustain the dispensary building and no resources to grow its business of serving some 20,000 who must walk great distances to access medical help. Roads are untreated trails; there is no electrical grid serving the dispensary; the water supply is captured rainwater; and there is no full-time doctor. Three full-time nurses paid with public funds staff the dispensary. A solar panel cools a vault for storing vaccines.

In a rural area, serving people engaged in small scale fishing, livestock husbandry, and small businesses, alongside peasants growing cassava, sorghum, maize, and beans, the dispensary is a critical community resource. If you consider that children are treated more than others for malaria, diarrhea, upper airway diseases, worms, and skin fungal infestations, you may be inclined to declare the dispensary a vital community resource.

The dispensary is in need of a deep well for potable water, an electricity generating system or a combination of technologies to run lights and refrigeration equipment, modernized onsite sewage treatment, a hard-surface access road, and a pedestrian bridge over a stream that floods during the rainy season. Essentials required for the dispensary include: clinic grade internal lighting; and properly sealed windows, doors, and ceilings to screen out insects, especially malaria and dengue-carrying mosquitoes and tsetse flies - and keep out the rain and wind.

Kirobe investments and partners wish to develop sustainable enterprises so that villagers earn income and generate cash for developing and maintaining the dispensary. Kirobe collects and process leather hides, other animal skins, legumes and honey, for export internationally. Footwear is crafted locally from the leather and retailed in nearby urban centers.

Kirobe Investments and AGL Marketing Limited (a Canadian company) collaborated to set up this Facebook Business Page to tell the story about the dispensary. Most products and the supply chain for sustainable micro businesses have been secured. Online and offline sales, and the business side of the dispensary are in development.

21/10/2019

Tanzania gives Chinese firm conditions for Bagamoyo port

The port would dwarf neighbouring Kenya's port at Mombasa and include an industrial zone, and rail and road links.

The government of Tanzania has issued an ultimatum to the Chinese investor in the $10 billion Bagamoyo port project to either accept and work with its terms and conditions of the contract or leave.

10/09/2019

Tanzania exports and imports rise

A rise in gold, coffee and cotton exports, as well as tourist arrivals has boosted the value of Tanzania’s goods and services exports to $8,594.5 million in the year ending July 2019, from $8,534.6 million in the year ending July 2018, according to Bank of Tanzania (BoT) economic monthly review for August.

BoT notes that non-traditional goods accounted for almost 80 per cent of goods exported at $3,689.2 million from $3,100.7 million in the corresponding period last year. The growth was driven by gold and manufactured goods exports. The value of gold, which accounted for more than 40 per cent of non-traditional exports, rose by 23.3 per cent to $1,783.8 million.

At the same time, traditional exports fell to $499.2 million from $1,113.9 million in the corresponding period in 2018, as all exports of traditional goods declined except coffee and cotton.

The BoT said it has put measures in place to improve the value chain of exports.