President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday joined Russian President Vladimir Putin and other global leaders at the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), using the high-profile platform to promote Tanzania as a destination for investment and trade.
Held at the ExpoForum Convention Centre in St. Petersburg, the annual forum is among the world's most influential economic gatherings, bringing together heads of state, policymakers, investors and business executives to discuss global economic trends and emerging investment opportunities.
President Samia’s participation comes as Tanzania seeks to deepen economic diplomacy and attract more foreign direct investment to support industrialisation, job creation and sustainable economic growth.
On the sidelines of the forum, the Tanzanian leader addressed the Tanzania-Russia Business and Investment Forum, where she invited Russian investors to take advantage of opportunities across key sectors of the economy.
The forum convened business leaders, investors and investment promotion agencies from both countries to explore partnerships in agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, infrastructure and manufacturing.
President Samia highlighted Tanzania’s strategic location, political stability and ongoing economic reforms, saying the country remains committed to creating a predictable and investor-friendly business environment.
She noted that the government has continued to implement measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business, strengthening public-private partnerships and expanding infrastructure to support investment-led growth.
The President also underscored Tanzania’s ambition to become a regional trade and logistics hub, citing major investments in transport, energy and port infrastructure that have enhanced the country’s competitiveness.
The Tanzania-Russia Business and Investment Forum provided a platform for business-to-business engagements and discussions on ways to expand trade and investment ties between the two nations.
For Russia, the forum offered an opportunity to strengthen its economic footprint in Africa, while for Tanzania it served as a platform to showcase investment opportunities and attract strategic partnerships capable of supporting the country's long-term development agenda.
Relations between Tanzania and Russia have continued to grow in recent years, with cooperation expanding beyond traditional areas into trade, energy, education and technology.
Analysts say President Samia’s participation in SPIEF 2026 reflects Tanzania’s broader strategy of engaging diverse international partners to mobilise investment, expand export markets and accelerate economic transformation.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is regarded as Russia’s premier investment event and attracts thousands of participants from across the world each year.
