By The Respondent Reporter
Finland’s President, Alexander Stubb, has concluded his two-day official visit to Tanzania, a move widely viewed as an effort to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
President Stubb was accompanied by a delegation of Finnish businesspeople who participated in a bilateral business forum held on May 16.
The discussions centered on exploring economic and commercial opportunities.
Commenting on the significance of the visit, economic expert Dr. Bravious Kahyoza remarked: “This is an important visit that reinforces Tanzania’s economic diplomacy, a priority agenda under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.”
The talks between the two Heads of State covered various areas including forestry, investment, and the blue economy.
On forestry, the global community is currently intensifying efforts to combat deforestation as a means to address the impacts of climate change.
In Tanzania, over 55 percent of land is protected, comprising forests, wildlife reserves, and national parks, according to the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS).
In terms of the blue economy, Tanzania boasts extensive marine and freshwater resources. If effectively utilized, these could significantly transform the country’s economic landscape.
Focusing on the investment, forestry, and blue economy components of the visit, Dr. Kahyoza emphasized their relevance to Tanzanians.
“All these sectors are crucial to Tanzania’s economy. The blue economy alone contributes more than $9 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs over 2 million people, while the forestry sector contributes 4.2% to GDP and provides employment to more than 1.7 million individuals,” he explained.
During President Stubb’s visit, President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed Tanzania’s readiness to seize opportunities for mutual benefit.
Analysts believe that success will depend on the effective implementation of Tanzania’s recently revised foreign policy.
“Tanzania is well-positioned to benefit from these opportunities, thanks to the strategic adjustments made in its foreign policy under President Samia Suluhu Hassan,” Dr. Kahyoza reinforced the view.
A key priority during the Finnish President’s visit was the FORLAND programme (Forestry, Land Use, and Value Chain Development in Tanzania).
Officially launched in 2024 and running through 2028, this joint initiative between Finland and Tanzania aims to promote sustainable land use and forest management.
Its objectives include enhancing community-based forest protection, improving tree farming, and boosting value chains to support smallholder tree growers, local communities, and small-scale entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the impact of FORLAND, Dr. Kahyoza noted: "FORLAND is a strong initiative that empowers citizens to take ownership of the environmental economy agenda.”
Another key topic during the presidential discussions was Tanzania’s Clean Energy for All strategy. President Samia has been a prominent advocate for clean energy, both nationally and across Africa.
Tanzania aspires that, by 2034, all citizens will have access to clean energy solutions—promoting both public health and environmental sustainability.
“Without a doubt, clean energy is vital for Tanzania’s national agenda. This plan will significantly enhance the country’s environmental conservation efforts and climate change mitigation,” Dr. Kahyoza underscored the importance of the initiative.
According to a State House statement released on May 13, Finland and Tanzania have enjoyed over 60 years of cooperation.
This longstanding partnership has focused on education, forestry, tax reform, gender equality, and, more recently, climate change.
Other areas of collaboration between the two countries include defense, the blue economy, artificial intelligence, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).