Residents of East African countries will need 400 million pairs of shoes by 2030

According to the Mid-Term Review of the East African Community (EAC) ten-year Leather Strategy for 2020-2030, regional footwear demand rose from 130 million pairs in 2017 to nearly 290 million pairs in 2024, while local production remains limited to about 17 million pairs. The EAC Secretariat in Arusha forecasts footwear demand will reach approximately 385 million pairs by 2030. Currently, most residents depend on imported secondhand shoes known as 'Mitumba'. The EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Fair will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 30 to November 8, 2026, focusing on the leather and horticulture sectors.