President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Visit China for FOCAC, Expected to Sign New Loan Deals

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — President Samia Suluhu Hassan is set to visit China in September for the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where she is anticipated to sign new loan agreements as Tanzania embarks on implementing a revised foreign policy.

During a working visit to Beijing last weekend, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba, confirmed China’s willingness to enter into new project sponsorships with Tanzania. This was stated following his discussions with Luo Zhaohui, the director of China's International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).

"We will finance the next phase of our bilateral projects that are already underway in Tanzania along with new strategic projects that you have requested," stated CIDCA chief Luo Zhaohui.

FOCAC, first held in 2000, incorporates 53 African countries, excluding Eswatini. This year's event will be the first since 2019 and is expected to draw numerous African leaders as China seeks to expand its influence across the continent further.

President Samia’s previous visit to Beijing in November 2022 resulted in the signing of 15 bilateral agreements. These agreements included an upgrade of the Chinese-built Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara), a $13.49 million debt waiver, and duty-free access to China for 98% of Tanzanian products. Other agreements included a $56.72 million concessional loan for a new terminal at Zanzibar's International Airport and the elevation of China-Tanzania relations to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership."

The upcoming visit is seen as a continuation of President Samia’s efforts to strengthen Tanzania's economic ties and attract foreign investment. Since succeeding the late President John Magufuli in March 2021, Samia has aimed to rebrand Tanzania as a pro-business country, distancing it from her predecessor's isolationist policies.

Tanzania’s new foreign policy, finalized during a recent retreat of the country’s international envoys, emphasizes economic diplomacy and non-alignment in international conflicts. The policy aims to secure Tanzania’s national interests through active international engagement, focusing on economic objectives while preserving past gains.

Chinese companies are Tanzania’s largest source of foreign direct investment, with projects in transportation, real estate, manufacturing, mining, tourism, agriculture, and other sectors, totaling $9.8 billion in value by October 2022. Tanzania’s export trade to China was valued at $600 million in 2022, with a target of increasing to $1 billion by 2025.

China’s main imports from Tanzania include oily seeds, raw and refined copper, precious metal ores, coconut, and other vegetable fibers. In return, Tanzania imports Chinese-made footwear, fabrics, electronic goods, and household utensils.

As Tanzania moves forward with its new foreign policy, President Samia’s upcoming visit to China is expected to further solidify economic ties and attract significant investment to support the country’s development goals.