By Business Insider Correspondent, Dodoma
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has used Tanzania’s annual diplomatic sherry party in Dodoma to firmly position the country as an emerging economic powerhouse, signalling a decisive shift from aid-dependence to investment-led growth as the nation embarks on the implementation of Vision 2050.
Addressing heads of diplomatic missions and international organisations at State House, Chamwino, on Thursday, President Samia outlined an ambitious development agenda anchored on economic sovereignty, large-scale infrastructure, industrialisation and strategic partnerships, as Tanzania eyes double-digit growth and a long-term aspiration of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.
Holding the first such diplomatic gathering in the capital Dodoma, the President said Tanzania’s development path is being shaped by “economic diplomacy”, with a strong emphasis on unlocking private sector potential, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and expanding productive sectors that generate jobs and value addition.
“Our message is clear: Tanzania is moving from exporting raw potential to exporting value,” she told the gathering, stressing that stability, predictability and reform would remain the pillars of the country’s engagement with global partners.
A resilient economy, growing confidence
President Samia said Tanzania remains among Africa’s fastest-growing economies, recording 5.9 percent GDP growth while keeping inflation at a stable 3.3 percent. Public debt, she added, remains sustainable at 48.2 percent of GDP, below the international threshold for low-income countries.
She pointed to growing investor confidence, reflected in Tanzania’s stable credit ratings of B1 from Moody’s and B+ from Fitch, as well as the strong performance of capital markets. Market capitalisation at the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange rose by more than 34 percent in 2025, reaching nearly TSh 24 trillion.
That confidence translated into a record 927 new investment projects registered by December 2025, worth over US$ 11 billion – the highest number since the establishment of the Tanzania Investment Centre. The projects are expected to generate more than 162,000 jobs, with local investors accounting for about a third of the total, signalling growing confidence among Tanzanian entrepreneurs.
“To our investors, we pledge that existing and new investments will be protected and secured,” President Samia said.
From growth to transformation
Beyond headline growth figures, the President emphasised structural transformation. Agriculture continues to anchor food security, with the country recording a food self-sufficiency ratio of 128 percent, while mining has emerged as a major growth driver, with mineral production surging by over 48 percent in 2024/25.
To strengthen economic resilience, the government now requires large-scale miners to sell at least 20 percent of their gold to the Bank of Tanzania, boosting foreign exchange reserves.
Tourism has also rebounded strongly, with receipts rising to nearly US$ 4 billion by the third quarter of 2025. Tanzania’s recognition as the World’s Leading Safari Destination at the World Travel Awards has further reinforced its global profile, while the expansion of Air Tanzania’s routes is supporting trade, tourism and regional connectivity.
Dira 2050: A new economic frontier
At the heart of the President’s address was the rollout of Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (Dira 2050), which officially takes off this year.
The strategy targets double-digit growth driven by productivity gains in agriculture, industrial value addition and the unlocking of new economic frontiers, including the blue and green economies, logistics and the digital sector.
A flagship priority is the long-awaited US$ 42 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which President Samia said would position Tanzania as a major global energy player. Equally central is the development of critical minerals, with the government committing to responsible, transparent and inclusive resource management aligned with global energy transition goals.
She invited governments, investors and development partners to engage with Tanzania in these sectors, noting recent global momentum, including G20 endorsement of the critical minerals agenda.
Infrastructure as an economic engine
President Samia underscored the role of infrastructure in unlocking growth, citing ongoing investments in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), ports, special economic zones and regional trade corridors.
The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project and the SGR, she said, are not just engineering feats but “engines of our new mineral economy”.
Strategic projects such as Bagamoyo port and its industrial ecosystem are being advanced to enhance Tanzania’s role as a regional logistics and trade hub serving East and Southern Africa.
Youth, health and climate at the core
Human capital featured prominently in the President’s development narrative. She described Tanzanian youth as the “heartbeat” of the Dira 2050 growth target, highlighting the creation of a Ministry of Youth under the President’s Office as a move to directly integrate young people into the national transformation agenda.
In health, Tanzania is shifting from reliance on aid to a focus on “health investment”, with universal health insurance, medical infrastructure and pharmaceutical manufacturing positioned as economic as well as social priorities.
President Samia invited partners to engage in “medical diplomacy”, including technology transfer and investment in local drug production.
Climate resilience was framed as both a development and security imperative. Tanzania plans to operationalise its carbon credit market and clean cooking strategy, positioning itself as a global carbon sink and renewable energy hub while insisting on partnerships based on mutual respect and sovereignty.
Trade, diplomacy and a non-aligned path
Regionally and globally, President Samia reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to integration, multilateralism and trade-led growth. As host of the East African Community, Tanzania is championing free movement of goods and services, while leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand exports and promote women and youth participation in trade.
On the global stage, she said Tanzania would remain non-aligned but “multi-engaged”, seeking pragmatic partnerships that deliver technology, trade and investment rather than aid alone.
“Our doors are open, our policy is clear, and our resolve is firm,” President Samia said, urging diplomats and partners to look beyond recent political headlines and focus on Tanzania’s long-term reforms and economic ambitions. As Tanzania steps into 2026, the message from Dodoma was unambiguous: the country is positioning itself not just as a stable partner, but as one of Africa’s next engines of growth.
