The Government has said it is firmly implementing President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s campaign promise to empower young people in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, with a new financing programme aimed at boosting digital startups across the country.
Presenting the Ministry of Information, Communications and Information Technology budget estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year in Parliament on Thursday, April 30, 2026, Minister Angellah Kairuki said the initiative is already in motion and is expected to unlock new opportunities for youth-led innovation.
She said during the 2025 General Election campaigns, President Samia pledged to allocate 200 billion shillings to support small and medium enterprises as well as emerging businesses.
Out of this amount, 5 billion shillings has been ring-fenced specifically for ICT startups to strengthen Tanzania’s growing digital economy.
According to the minister, the funds have already been secured and the necessary guidelines for accessing the loans have been completed.
She added that the rollout will be implemented through the National Microfinance Bank (NMB), with disbursement expected to begin in May 2026 for applicants who meet the required conditions.
The programme targets at least 50 ICT startups working in key areas of innovation, including financial technology (FinTech), legal technology, entertainment technology, agricultural technology (Agri-Tech), tourism technology, insurance technology, education technology, logistics systems, software services (SaaS), e-commerce, and other digital solutions.
Minister Kairuki said the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring young people are fully involved in building Tanzania’s digital economy, while also expanding job creation, innovation, and competitiveness in the technology sector.
She added that the programme forms part of broader government efforts to strengthen the ICT ecosystem, improve the investment environment for startups, and position Tanzania as a regional hub for digital innovation in East Africa.
