Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has said Tanzania is pursuing a broad and inclusive international cooperation strategy aimed at accelerating the country’s economic and social development amid changing global political and economic dynamics.
Speaking after concluding her state visit to Russia, President Samia said Tanzania is no longer limiting itself to partnerships with specific global blocs, but is instead willing to work with any country capable of contributing to national development.
“In economic diplomacy, whenever you see an opportunity to grow your economy, you take that opportunity,” President Samia said during an interview with journalists accompanying her on the visit on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
She noted that shifts in global politics and economic systems have pushed Tanzania to adopt a more pragmatic and open foreign policy approach.
“Given the changes in global politics and economies, Tanzania does not choose who to work with. We welcome everyone who can work with us for mutual benefit,” she said.
“When we say we are not aligned to any side, you will see that we work with all superpowers.”
The President said the cooperation between Tanzania and Russia is expected to unlock significant opportunities, particularly for young people, through investments in agriculture, manufacturing and the extractive industry.
She cited the Mkuju River Uranium Project as an example, saying the project alone is expected to create employment for about 20,000 Tanzanian youths across various sectors.
“The Mkuju uranium project will employ twenty thousand young people in different professions, and Tanzanian youth are part of that opportunity,” she said.
During the visit, Tanzania and Russia reached agreements in nine key areas of cooperation, according to Tanzanian officials accompanying the delegation.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, June 7, 2026, Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, said the agreements cover agriculture, education and training, energy, mining, industries, transport and logistics, tourism, digital economy, trade and investment.
He added that eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have already been signed between the two countries as part of the implementation process.
Among the agreements is a partnership between Tanzania’s National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) aimed at promoting the Kiswahili language in Russia.
At the same time, the Russian language is expected to start being taught in Tanzania, beginning at the University of Dodoma.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, described President Samia’s visit as timely and highly successful, saying it has generated renewed interest in cooperation between the two countries.
He noted that Russia is currently implementing a broader strategy to strengthen and expand its partnerships across Africa.
“Russia trades with six billion people globally. Only 1.5 billion people worldwide have imposed sanctions on it,” Kombo said.
“Africa is now a major target for Russia, and it already has good relations with the continent”
The visit is being viewed as part of Tanzania’s broader diplomatic and economic strategy to diversify international partnerships while attracting investment, technology and employment opportunities for its growing population, amid growing diplomatic scrutiny from sections of the international community following unrest linked to the October 29 elections.
