Leather Cluster Barcelona has carried out a cluster connection mission to share knowledge and transfer experience on cluster development, with the leather and footwear cluster of the Palestinian city of Hebron.
This initiative responds to the request made by Berytech (Lebanon’s business ecosystem) in the European Cluster Connect Mission project that belongs to Euromed Clusters Forward, which focuses on improving the governance capacity of clusters to develop forward-looking strategies and provide quality services to their members, thus increasing their business performance, their capacity for innovation and job creation.
The proposal organised by Leather Cluster Barcelona for the Hebron Leather and Shoes Cluster has focused on two major axes: the circular economy and sustainability, and the financial management of clusters.
Support from ACCIÓ and the Igualada City Council
The cooperative mission, which has had the support of ACCIÓ and the Igualada City Council, has been developed in two major areas of action: on the one hand, two months of distance learning for the management and associated companies of the Palestinian cluster, and on the other, a trip to Catalonia for the managers of the Hebron Leather and Shoes Cluster to complement the learning and make visits to different agents and companies associated with the Leather Cluster Barcelona.
As for online training, it has been provided by the management of A3 Leather Innovation Center – UdL, a leading international technology partner that develops projects promoting innovation, research and the application of the best available techniques and new technologies in the leather sector.
The six training sessions have focused on the green transition and sustainability with topics such as compliance with environmental laws, best sustainable practices in leather production or circular production processes.
The mission has concluded with a trip to Catalonia by the managers of the Hebron Leather and Shoes Cluster. During an intense week of work, the president of the Palestinian cluster, Amer Arafa, and the executive director, Mohamed Hussein, have participated in visits to the different agents and organizations of Leather Cluster Barcelona, meetings with other organizations in the Catalan environment of the clusters and presentations by professionals from different areas such as sustainability, finance or communication.
