THE government has collected 192.78bn/- in revenue from online businesses, especially online betting, in the July 2024 to March 2025 period, the legislature heard yesterday.

Exaud Kigahe, the Industry and Trade deputy minister, made this affirmation when responding to a question from Rita Kabati (Special Seats) who asked whether the government formally recognizes online businesses, how many companies are registered, and how much revenue has been generated from the sub-sector.

He said the government acknowledges the rapid growth of online business, with 1,820 companies registered, 1,075 of them operating primarily online, while 745 just use online platforms.

The government has taken steps to strengthen oversight of online business operations, now starting to bear fruit, as in the July 2024 to March 2025 period 192.78bn/- was collected from such businesses.

To keep pace with technological advancements in commerce, the government is finalizing a National E-Commerce Strategy to provide a roadmap for supporting and regulating online trade, he explained.

This includes improving ICT infrastructure, reviewing policies, laws and regulations, along with enhancing communication, transport and logistical services, he said.

Other priorities include strengthening digital payment systems and providing public education to promote safe and effective use of online platforms for business, he further noted.

In a supplementary question, the MP raised concern over fraud and scams in online business, particularly on social media platforms where unlicensed vendors operate and evade taxes.

Acknowledging the challenges, the deputy minister noted that the government took up the issue in the 2023 Trade Policy, with measures specifically aimed at improving oversight and accountability in e-commerce.

The Treasury has a specialized unit responsible for supervising online transactions to ensure revenue is not lost, he said, highlighting initiatives involving young innovators who created a platform that connects buyers and sellers.

It was also in partnership with the Tanzania Posts Corporation, thus when a customer places an order, the payment is held until the goods are confirmed, and only then is the money released to the seller, he added.