Africa: Statements by His Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania during the official launch of the World Investment Summit in Africa
Dubai – Text of a speech by Tanzanian President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan during the launch of the Global Investment Summit in Africa in Dubai on February 3, 2026.
Dr. Adesina, my fellow Heads of State, distinguished investors and partners,
It is a pleasure to join you this evening to mark the official launch of the Global Investment Summit in Africa – an important and timely initiative that speaks directly to Africa’s development aspirations and the evolving nature of global partnership. I would personally and sincerely like to acknowledge Dr. Akinumoye Adesina for his exceptional passion, leadership and lifelong commitment to Africa. Today, I congratulate him and Margery Krause for their vision, courage and unwavering faith in Africa. The Global Investment Summit in Africa is Africa’s platform for the world of global capital, designed to unleash the value of Africa’s sovereign assets.
Today, Africa stands at a critical juncture. Our continent is rich in resources, talent and opportunities, but our challenge is how to transform this potential into sustainable, investment-led growth. Therefore, platforms like GAIS are essential, as they help bridge the gap between ambition and implementation by linking credible/bankable projects to long-term capital.
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Allow me to share with you Tanzania’s experience in this regard.
Over the past few years, Tanzania has undertaken deliberate and sustained reforms to strengthen the foundations of our economy and improve the investment climate. We have prioritized strategic infrastructure – energy, transport and logistics – not as goals in themselves, but as enablers of productivity, industrialization and regional integration.
Today, Tanzania has achieved energy security, supported by significant investments in power generation. Here are some examples of this growth.
• We completed the construction of the largest hydropower dam in East Africa – the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (2,115 MW), to meet Tanzania and regional energy needs.
• We operated East Africa’s first electric railway with a speed of 160 kilometers per hour and a capacity of 2.5 million passengers in its first year.
• We have transformed our port from a regional bottleneck to a gateway – doubling productivity and reducing ship turnaround times from 10 days to 3 days.
The result?
Registered investment projects rose to 927 in 2025 from 252 in 2021, while the value of registered investment rose from $3.8 billion four years ago to $11.08 billion last year. Tanzania rose to ninth place among the most attractive investment destinations in Africa.
To the investors in this room tonight, I offer you three things:
First, successful infrastructure. power. Railway. Ports. The backbone is built.
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Second: Areas ready for investment. Our SEZs are fully investor-ready, offering land, permits, certificates and incentives through an integrated facilitation centre, ensuring a smooth and timely investment process.
Third, a government that keeps its word. Ask DP World. Ask our other partners. We fulfill our commitments.
Dear guests,
What investors today are looking for is not only opportunities, but also confidence in institutions, in policy coherence, and in partners who honor their commitments. Tanzania is committed to being such a partner. We value relationships built on credibility, accountability and shared prosperity.
In this context, the World Investment Summit in Africa represents a tangible shift – from fragmented participation to structured cooperation; From aid dependence to investment-led growth; From isolated projects to bankable portfolios aligned with national priorities. This is precisely the kind of platform Africa needs to mobilize global capital on a large scale.
Tanzania stands ready to engage through GAIS, to deliver well-prepared projects, and to work with investors and partners who share our vision of inclusive and sustainable development.
So I invite you to explore the opportunities that Tanzania offers and to join us in building partnerships that deliver lasting impact – not just for our economies, but for our people as well.
Thank you for your kind interest, and I wish GAIS every success.
