The announcement follows the historic visit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Russia, marking the first time in 57 years that a Tanzanian head of state has travelled to the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan became only the second Tanzanian president to visit Russia, after the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who made a similar trip more than five decades ago.
During the visit, President Samia attended an international economic forum and was accompanied by senior Tanzanian officials who held discussions with various Russian companies operating in sectors such as healthcare, mining, agriculture, and technology.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Russia, John Ulanga, said the country expects to secure at least $2 billion in investments and business opportunities as a result of the president’s recent trip.
“Based on the ongoing discussions on trade and investment, we are optimistic that within the next three to five years, Tanzania will attract investments and business partnerships worth more than $2 billion. This will position Russia among Tanzania’s key partners in the country’s development,” he said.
The planned projects are expected to strengthen Russia’s presence in the East African market.
Ambassador Ulanga noted that Tanzania is particularly interested in working with Russian investors to develop strategic sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and vaccine production.
“Companies from Russia have indicated that within the next five years they could collaborate with Tanzania to produce at least 20 million doses of locally manufactured vaccines for use in Tanzania and the wider regional market,” he added.
Russian firms have also expressed interest in investing in critical mineral extraction, including the processing of uranium, which is increasingly important for the energy sector and advanced technologies.
Russian energy giant Gazprom has likewise shown interest in partnering with Tanzania in the processing of petroleum products and natural gas.
The discussions further covered opportunities in agriculture, technology, value addition, and the promotion of small and emerging enterprises.
Tanzania has increasingly turned its attention towards Russia amid strained relations with some Western countries following controversies surrounding the country’s 2025 presidential election.
Although President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the election, opposition groups strongly criticised the electoral process. The period following the vote was marked by protests and unrest that resulted in several deaths.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Tanzania is currently the second-largest economy in the East African Community (EAC), with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projected at $94.89 billion in 2026, behind Kenya, whose economy is estimated at $147.26 billion.
Tanzania’s economy is also forecast to grow by 5.9 percent in 2026, underlining the country’s ambitions to expand its economic partnerships and attract new investment.
