THE Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) has disbursed over 1.6bn/- in loans through the National Entrepreneurship Development Fund (NEDF) to entrepreneurial groups across all districts in Tanga Region to enhance economic empowerment.

Tanga Regional SIDO Manager, Baliyo Christopher, disclosed this while speaking to The Guardian on Wednesday, highlighting the financial support provided to groups engaged in income-generating activities, including processing industries.

Beneficiaries include those involved in wood carving, fish processing, and the production of garage-related products.

Christopher noted that these achievements have been realized in the past three years from March 2021 to June 2024.

He stated that 1.4bn/- was allocated to small entreprises through a collaboration between donors and the government.

SIDO has also provided various skills training programmes, benefiting 1,450 people. The training enabled 801 women and 709 men to establish self-employment ventures and small businesses, with 238.47m/- invested through government and donor contributions.

Furthermore, 1,667 individuals received business development training—697 men and 970 women—at a cost of  85.05m/-.

As part of its infrastructure improvements, SIDO renovated a skills training facility at SIDO Industrial Area, allocating 30m/- for refurbishment.

Regarding the construction of an industrial facility for traders, Christopher stated that the project is nearing completion.

"Entrepreneurs have also benefited from affordable industrial spaces, with 33 securing low-cost government facilities. These industries have created 96 permanent jobs and 57 temporary jobs," he added.