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| Hon. Dr. Blandina Kilama, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Planning Commission, delivers her remarks during the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) Graduation at the Hyatt Regency in Dar es Salaam. |
- 186 Tanzanian SMEs graduate from the Supplier Development Programme, gaining skills and networks to compete in corporate, government, and regional supply chains under AfCFTA.
- GAIN partnership delivers a nutrition-sensitive track, strengthening food and agriculture businesses that improve access to affordable, nutritious food in Tanzania.
- Government, private sector, and development partners unite at the inaugural Stanbic Biashara Summit to discuss local content as a driver of Vision 2050, aligning enterprise development with national and global goals.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Friday, 12 September 2025: 186 Tanzanian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) graduated from the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) during the first-ever Stanbic Biashara Summit in Dar es Salaam, in what leaders hailed as a milestone for entrepreneurship, nutrition, and inclusive growth.
Hosted at the Hyatt Regency, the event combined a graduation ceremony with a high-level dialogue on how local content can drive Tanzania’s socio-economic development. Government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and entrepreneurs attended the celebration, which organisers said will become an annual platform for enterprise development and innovation.
The 2025 graduating class included 186 businesses across four cohorts, among them a nutrition-sensitive track delivered in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Since the programme’s inception in 2022, a total of 300 businesses have graduated.
The SDP equips SMEs with practical skills in financial management, leadership, supply chain compliance, market linkages, and innovation. Participants are now better prepared to compete for contracts with corporates, government institutions, and in regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This programme closes the gap between ambition and opportunity,” said Kai Mollel, Head of Stanbic Biashara Incubator. “It helps entrepreneurs move from informal operations to investment-ready businesses capable of entering large supply chains.”
Guest of Honour, Blandina Kilama, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Planning Commission, praised the programme’s impact on Tanzania’s economic future:
“SMEs are the backbone of our economy. Across Africa they provide more than 70 percent of jobs and contribute up to 40 percent of GDP. By strengthening SMEs, we are strengthening Tanzania itself. What excites me most is that some of these graduates are not only building businesses but also solving challenges of nutrition and food security.”
The Summit also marked Stanbic Bank’s 30th anniversary in Tanzania. Chief Financial and Value Officer, Derick Lugemala, said:
“For three decades, we have been more than a bank – we have been a partner in Tanzania’s growth story. Through the Biashara Incubator, we are building a pipeline of SMEs ready to scale, secure contracts, and supply regionally. With partners like GAIN, we are showing that business growth and social impact can go hand in hand.”
He added that the nutrition-sensitive track was directly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Zero Hunger, Good Health, and Gender Equality.
The SDP is about more than graduation – it is about building a better future for Tanzanians. By giving small businesses the tools to grow, it helps create jobs, strengthen local supply chains, and give entrepreneurs the confidence to compete beyond borders. The nutrition-sensitive track also helps more people access affordable, healthy food, demonstrating how business growth can strengthen communities and contribute to Vision 2050.
Dr. Winfrida Mayila, Head of Programmes at GAIN Tanzania, added:
“Nutrition-sensitive enterprises are central to creating healthier communities. By helping SMEs in this sector grow, we are contributing to both economic development and better health outcomes for Tanzanians.”
A highlight of the Summit was a panel discussion on “Local Content as a Catalyst for Socio-economic Development – Driving Competitive Tanzanian Businesses Towards Vision 2025.” Panellists, including senior government officials and entrepreneurs, explored how local suppliers could play a bigger role in national development by meeting procurement standards, innovating, and competing regionally.
Organisers confirmed that the Biashara Summit will be held annually as a platform to showcase entrepreneurship, encourage policy dialogue, and celebrate innovation.
For the graduating entrepreneurs, the ceremony was not an end but a beginning. As one participant put it:
“This programme has given us confidence to compete. Now it is up to us to take what we have learned and build businesses that create jobs, grow incomes, and make Tanzania proud.”
For more information, please contact:
About Stanbic Bank Tanzania
About GAIN
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle malnutrition. Working in over a dozen countries, including Tanzania, GAIN partners with governments, businesses, and civil society to make nutritious and safe food more available, accessible, and affordable. In Tanzania, GAIN supports nutrition-sensitive enterprises, particularly in food and agriculture, to improve health outcomes while driving inclusive economic growth. www.gainhealth.org
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