Suluhu Hassan in Moscow

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is on a state visit to Moscow from June 3 to 5, 2026. This is her first trip abroad since her election victory in October 2025. The visit includes several highlights: A wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. This took place at the beginning of the programme. A meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The official ceremony took place on June 3 in the St. George's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace. The heads of state welcomed each other warmly against the backdrop of the flags of both countries, followed by an orchestra playing the national anthems. Participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The Forum will take place from 3 to 6 June. Samia Suluhu Hassan will speak in the plenary session and participate in the Russian-Tanzanian economic dialogue, which will discuss new investment projects. In addition to Moscow, the Tanzanian president will also visit St. Petersburg. Historical context: This is the first visit by a Tanzanian leader to Russia in over half a century. The last such visit took place in October 1969, when Julius Nyerere, the first President of united Tanzania, visited the Soviet Union. The Russian delegation participating in the talks includes seven federal ministers as well as the heads of the central bank, Rospotrebnadzor, Rosatom and Delovaya Rossiya. Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit. The 2026/2027 budget allocates 1.12 trillion Tanzanian shillings for water development. These funds will expand access to clean water, build 34 new dams, and implement water supply projects in 314 villages. Coca-Cola invested $1.94 million in the restoration of the Ruvu Basin to improve the water supply to Dar es Salaam. The project benefits 2,000 farmers and supports the city's water supply. Factors conducive to investment include political stability and reforms to improve the investment climate. The creation of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) to coordinate foreign investment, expanded tax incentives for PPP projects, the introduction of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and improved opportunities for international arbitration for dispute resolution were introduced. However, there are also challenges, such as new foreign exchange regulations that require domestic transactions to be conducted in Tanzanian shillings. This is intended to stabilize the national currency, but it poses currency risks and requires compliance with regulatory requirements for foreign investors.