“This is the time to stand together and get connected. It’s time to bury our differences, show love to one another and look forward with confidence.” H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania
Located on the east coast of Africa and south of the equator, Tanzania is home to some of the world’s first human settlements, with fossils dating back as far as 3.6 million years. Today, the country has set further precedence and given Africa its first Muslim female president, further cementing Tanzania’s positive legacy on the world stage.
Today, Tanzania is thriving; the country’s GDP in 2021 demonstrated an increase of over five million dollars compared to 2020. Strategically designed and flexible policies that pay heed to the importance of the private sector are contributing to the country’s economic growth. President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership is marking a positive new beginning for the country and a brighter future. “Her Excellency strongly believes in the private sector and understands that for this country to prosper, the government must be able to work very closely with them. She has been very clear that all policies which are limiting or hindering investors must be reviewed. She’s pushing the agenda of creating a one-stop centre for investments in Tanzania, to get everything in one place,” says Abdulmajid Nsekela, Group CEO & Managing Director of CRDB Bank.
The most notable impact of H.E Hassan’s administration is the change in investment parameters that have made Tanzania an appealing investment destination. Hosea Kashimba, Director General of Public Service Social Security Fund states, “Madam Samia has been advocating to unlock barriers to investment like getting working permits. The government’s initiative to review the country’s policies is providing reassurance to investors.”
The President has also done a remarkable job in finishing projects which were started by the late President Magufuli, one of which is the Tanzanite Bridge which has quickly become symbolic of Tanzania’s growth and prosperity. Ruth Zaipuna, Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank, describes the President’s first year in office as impressive, “Her Excellency is completing key and strategic infrastructure projects that were started by her predecessor, but she is commissioning new projects as well. She is attracting new foreign direct investments. The recent one, almost US$1.3 trillion from IMF, has transformed the country in terms of infrastructure development.”
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H.E Hassan has also worked hard to rebrand Tanzania, opening up the country to attract foreign investment and tourism. In 2021, the country attracted a total of US$4.144 billion in foreign direct investments with 237 new projects. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba states, “Her Excellency is marketing Tanzania abroad; you can easily access land for investment in Tanzania and at a relatively low cost compared to most African countries.” In terms of the tourism sector, in 2021, Tanzania was voted Africa’s most beautiful tourist destination by the World Travel Awards.
The Tanzanian President has brought together and unified neighbouring nations, securing political stability and economic growth. She ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area in 2021, enabling Tanzania to tap into a market of 1.2 billion potential customers. In addition, she has actively taken part in many worldwide conferences to help put Tanzania back on the map. CEO of Stanbic Bank, Kevin Wingfield says, “The energy and passion that she has shown in terms of the number of visits she’s done in a very short period of time to unlock and open doors for the country is hugely positive.” The President has reportedly secured a record TSh 18.75 trillion in MoUs at the Dubai Expo in 2021.
In just one year, the President has become an iconic figure in Tanzania’s history, particularly for driving positive changes in the country. Managing Director and CEO of NCBA Bank Tanzania Limited, Margaret Karume says, “As the first female head of state in Tanzania, the president has been an inspiration for women. For the first time, Tanzania has women in many strategic government positions, ministry of foreign affairs and East African cooperation, minister of defence and national service, among others. This has great implications, especially for young women who are looking up to our beloved president.”
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