Shinyanga: The Minister of Industry and Trade, Hon. Judith Kapinga (MP), has urged the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) to intensify efforts in enabling small and medium-sized entrepreneurs to access affordable technology and machinery. This, she noted, would allow them to add value to raw materials, grow their businesses, and create employment within the country.
Hon. Kapinga made these remarks in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region, during the opening of the 2026 National SIDO Exhibition. She highlighted that Tanzania is rich in resources derived from agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and other sectors—resources that can serve as a foundation for developing productive industries and businesses. She further emphasized the importance of processing raw materials domestically to add value, rather than exporting them in their raw state.
Kapinga called on SIDO to develop accessible technologies that would enable citizens to add value to produce such as coffee and cashews. She also stressed the importance of SIDO collaborating with other institutions and the private sector to design and improve machinery that is affordable for small-scale entrepreneurs.
Regarding access to capital, Ms. Kapinga stated that the sixth-phase Government has continued to create an enabling environment through various funds and programs designed to provide capital. Over the past three years, loans totaling 14.572 billion shillings were disbursed through SIDO; 52% of the beneficiaries were women, and these efforts contributed to the creation of 13,482 jobs.
He noted that the Government aims to ensure that capital and technology services reach an increasing number of entrepreneurs—specifically those with the potential to expand their production and business operations but who face challenges in securing capital—thereby empowering them to enhance their competitiveness in national, regional, and international markets.
