(Moscow Bureau) – Tanzania and Russia share a longstanding partnership that spans more than six decades. In December this year, the two countries will commemorate 65 years of diplomatic relations. Certainly, we do not take this milestone for granted. We treat it as an enduring testament of strong commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership that seeks to uplift the lives of our people.
By Samia Suluhu Hassan
Tanzania is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. The economic growth currently stands at six percent and is projected to expand to 6.3 percent by the end of this year. The goal is to attain an upper-middle-income economy status with a per capita income of around $7,000, in line with the Tanzania Vision 2050.
In order to achieve this goal, we are building three pillars at once. We are prioritising construction of transport infrastructure, including the Standard Gauge Railway, with plans to connect the Dar es Salaam port to the land-linked countries of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. On the same note, the Five-Year Development Plan 2026–2031 outlines plans to extend the railway networks connecting Tanga Port in the north of Tanzania to Musoma Port in Lake Victoria, to facilitate transportation facilities in Lake Victoria to the neighbouring countries.
The Southern Corridor Railway, which is going to connect Tanzania to Malawi and Mozambique, is another railway project. We have completed the construction of the Julius Nyerere hydropower project, which has added more than 2,000 megawatts to our national grids. Plans to generate 8,000 megawatts by 2030 and 70,000 megawatts by 2050 are underway.
On the other hand, we joined hands with Uganda in implementing the East African oil pipeline that will transport crude oil through our territories to global markets. Similarly, we are expanding the soft infrastructure by increasing the broadband coverage to more than 95 percent, also building more data centres and extending cross-border fibre as part of our ICT broadband project. This project stretches beyond the borders and connects to the neighbouring countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi, positioning Tanzania as a regional digital hub for land-linked countries.
By 2050, one in four human beings in this planet will be African. Africa will be the only continent on Earth still adding workers to the global labour force on a large scale. Africa will host nine of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies. Africa’s middle class will exceed one billion people, and the African continental free trade area, when fully operational, will constitute the largest single market in the world by population. This is not just a forecast but an arithmetic. Africa is destined to grow. The question, however, is on what terms, with which partners, and on whose model of growth. Africa somehow has charted its own development model.
It is clearly articulated in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, operationalised through the African continental free trade area, the programme for infrastructure development in Africa, and the development plans in our regional blocs. To date, the bilateral relations between Tanzania and Russia, between the investment authorities, Russia’s Roscongress, and the Tanzania Investment Authority, have been formalised through signing a memorandum of understanding, which will open a new bridge of business to Tanzania. Concrete steps have been taken to review the laws and regulations for the purpose of creating a favourable investment environment, and henceforth, attracting more capital investment.
In 2025, we created a one-stop centre for all investors coming to Tanzania. New companies can now register online within 24 hours. This has transformed Tanzania into the fastest-growing investment destination in Africa, receiving around $12 billion worth of foreign direct investment in 2025, compared to nearly $3 billion in 2021. We are proud to say Russian enterprises have contributed to this growth trajectory.
Trade has equally remained steady at around $4 million annually. Tanzania’s challenge is to export more to Russia, and Russia is exporting more to Tanzania.
There are five main projects for which we are here to seek a partnership from the international business community.
First, Tanzania is embarking on one of the most ambitious port infrastructure development projects, encompassing a special economic zone, and this is being done just four kilometres north of our commercial city, Dar es Salaam. We are turning a small historic trade vicinity into a global hub of commerce, manufacturing, and maritime sector development. The Bagamoyo special economic zone is number one flagship project, and we welcome international enterprises to partner with us. Moreover, we are developing a complex Mangapwani port – a transshipment port on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. The feasibility studies for both ports are ready, and we are eagerly encouraging partners to join us in investments.
Second, on mining and mineral beneficiation, we have endeavoured to ensure that the existing wealth of gold, uranium, nickel, graphite, helium, niobium, and other rare earth elements bring us massive economic returns. Our national policy is clear. We intend to move steadily from being a producer of raw materials to a producer of finished products. We invite partners to invest with us in industrial parks that will give real meaning to mining beneficiation.
Third is tourism. Tanzania is one of the world-renowned tourist destinations. Our remarkable hospitality industry continues to dominate the global tourism platforms. Last year, for the second time, the Serengeti National Park won the Africa’s leading national park at the World Travel Awards, held in December 2025. At the same time, Tanzania has also been crowned as Africa’s leading destination, and Zanzibar was awarded Africa’s best corporate retreat destination. As part of the plan to attract tourists from Russia, we have designated a national carrier, Air Tanzania – The Wings of Kilimanjaro – to begin direct flights between Dar es Salaam, Moscow, and Zanzibar. The first flight is expected to be on the 2nd of July this year. We aim to increase the number of Russian visitors to Tanzania to 500,000 by the year 2030, and a million shortly after.
Fourth, as part of efforts to transform the agriculture sector and enhance food security, we have prioritised local fertiliser production to sustain the growing domestic demand. Since Russia is the world’s largest exporter of fertilisers, Tanzania highly encourages the establishment of the local fertiliser plants geared to serve the country and the region at large. Fifth is the critical issue of energy generation: Tanzania has huge deposits of uranium.
The main target is to use some of it in generating nuclear energy to meet the growing demand, which is expected to reach 8,000 megawatts by 2030 and subsequently 70,000 megawatts by 2050. It is in this context that Tanzania is advancing to nuclear energy as part of the long-term strategy to diversify our energy mix and support sustainable economic growth. To guide this effort, we have developed an ambitious national roadmap for nuclear power development, including the use of small modular reactors in long-term energy strategy. And here, the Rosatom company of Russia has shown great interest, and we are holding discussions with them.
In conclusion, it suffices to say that the world is moving faster, and that necessitates developing countries to keep pace. We must go where the wind blows. Indeed, this is a time for partnership, clarity, and trust. Above all, it is a time for us to take charge and realise the full potential. In this situation, Tanzania is open for business. Tanzania is ready for new ideas and innovation. Tanzania is open to collaboration with international partners. This meeting has been a useful platform for enriching engagement in such endeavours. This important engagement looks forward to closer and greater economic collaborations between Tanzania and the Russian Federation.
*Samia Suluhu Hassan is the President of the United Republic of Tanzania
