Tanzania, Finland strengthen ties as President stubb visits

DAR ES SALAAM: FINLAND President, Alexander Stubb, is expected to begin a three-day official visit to Tanzania today, following an invitation from President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

According to a statement released yesterday by the Directorate of Presidential Communication, President Samia will officially receive her Finnish counterpart at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

President Stubb’s visit spans from today until Friday.

Following the official welcome, the two Heads of State are scheduled to engage in bilateral discussions and subsequently address the media.

“Finland and Tanzania share a 60 years of partnership, collaborating in areas such as education, forestry, tax reforms, gender equality, climate change initiatives, security, the blue economy, artificial intelligence and Information and Communication Technology (ICT),” read part of the statement.

During the visit, President Stubb will engage in several activities, including a seminar honouring the legacy of the former President of Finland and a distinguished diplomat, the late Martti Ahtisaari who served as Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General in Namibia and Kosovo, as well as Finland’s Ambassador to Tanzania.

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In his delegation Mr Stubb is accompanied by government officials and business leaders from Finland.

He is expected to address the Tanzania-Finland Business Forum scheduled for Friday to discuss economic and trade opportunities between the two nations.

According to the statement the business forum will serve as a catalyst to stimulate trade and investment between Finland and Tanzania, where Tanzania aims to benefit from capital and investments from Finland.

Furthermore, President Stubb will speak at a youth seminar on innovation, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), that will take place at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).

He is also expected to launch the Business Ecosystem Project of the Forestry, Land Use and Value Chains Development in Tanzania (FORLAND) at the city’s Botanical Gardens and visit the ‘Wanawake Wanaweza’ Project coordinated by UN Women located at Machinga Complex, Ilala.

President Stubb will conclude his visit on May 16, 2025, with an official farewell from President Samia at the State House in Dar es Salaam.