Dodoma. The government has disbursed Sh10.5 billion within its first 100 days to empower more than 100,000 formalised small-scale traders across the country.
Speaking to journalists on January 25, 2026, the minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima, said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to build an inclusive economy that enables a larger proportion of citizens to participate meaningfully in national development.
Dr Gwajima noted that the informal sector remains a critical pillar of the national economy, employing millions of Tanzanians, particularly women, youth and persons with disabilities.
However, she observed that for many years the sector has faced persistent challenges, including lack of legal recognition, limited access to capital, constrained market opportunities and exclusion from social protection systems.
To address these challenges, the government has strengthened the formalisation drive for small-scale traders, integrating them into the formal economic system.
As a result, a total of 119,595 traders have been registered through the Small-Scale Traders Registration Management Information System (WBN–MIS).
The identification, registration and empowerment exercise for small-scale traders is continuing across various sectors nationwide.
Dr Gwajima said that of the funds disbursed, Sh1.35 billion has already been channelled through NMB Bank in the form of individual loans for both women and men at a concessional interest rate of seven per cent.
In addition, the Women Development Fund continues to provide loans at a reduced interest rate of four per cent.
Through the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government-(PMO-RALG), more than 6,000 groups have benefited from loans amounting to over Sh33 billion, sourced from the mandatory 10 per cent of councils’ own revenues.
She further explained that the government, through institutions including SIDO, PPRA and TAMISEMI, has continued to support entrepreneurs by providing training, licences and access to markets, including participation in public procurement opportunities.
On the financial side, banks such as NMB, TCB and DCB have collectively extended loans exceeding Sh700 billion to formalised traders.
Overall, the Sh10.5 billion investment has yielded positive outcomes by empowering small-scale traders, strengthening the informal sector and laying a solid foundation for a competitive and inclusive economy.
The government has reiterated its call for citizens to formalise their businesses in order to benefit from the wide range of opportunities available.
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