Tanzania allocates 13.5bn/-to boost small-scale trade

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has allocated 13.5bn/- for lending to small-scale traders through NMB Bank where between February and December 2025, a total of 4,958 traders across the country accessed loans amounting to 10.17bn/-.

Explaining the significant achievements recorded by small-scale traders the Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima speaking in Dar es Salaam said that Dar es Salaam Region alone secured over 1.27bn/- for 494 beneficiaries, with loan disbursement continuing through NMB branches nationwide.

Moreover, the minister said that the government has successfully established a Digital Identification and Registration System for Small-Scale Traders (WBN), which has enhanced transparency, simplified identification and expanded access to economic opportunities for the traders.

She said that through the system registered traders are issued with digital identification cards, which serve as a key tool for accessing affordable loans through NMB Bank.

Elaborating, the minister said that from the period of March 2024 to December 2025, a total of 115,794 small-scale traders were registered nationwide,  with 71,322 being women and 44,472 men.

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And in the Dar es Salaam Region alone, a total of 11,140 traders were registered.

Additionally, Dr Gwajima said that during the same period, 49,012 digital IDs were issued nationwide, with more than 6,397 distributed in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Gwajima further said the Ministry conducted small-scale traders’ forums in 25 regions in 2025, engaging more than 25,458 traders, with the aim of providing entrepreneurship education and discussing achievements and existing challenges.

Through the forums, traders were linked with various supporting institutions, including NMB, TADB, TRA, SIDO, PPRA, VETA, NSSF and NHIF, to strengthen their access to financial services, skills development and social protection.