Joseph Isangura
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has made a passionate call to Tanzanians living abroad and people of Tanzanian descent worldwide, urging them to return home and take an active role in building the nation’s future.
Speaking at the launch of the updated Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024 Edition), held at the iconic Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, the president encouraged the global Tanzanian community to invest their skills, capital, and ideas in the country’s development.
“To Tanzanians living abroad and citizens of other countries with Tanzanian roots—commonly referred to as the Diaspora—now that the government officially recognises you as key partners in national development, you are warmly invited to return home and invest in both the economic and social sectors,” she said. “It is also your duty to promote Tanzania’s good reputation rather than tarnish the image of your country.”
This revised foreign policy marks a shift in the way Tanzania is engaging its global citizens. By offering legal and institutional frameworks for recognition, the policy allows Tanzanians living overseas to benefit from streamlined access to land rights, immigration status, and investment incentives.
In the past year alone, the government’s commitment to making Tanzania investor-friendly has led to measurable success. The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) registered more than 700 investment projects between July 2023 and June 2024—almost double the 369 projects recorded the previous year. These projects are valued at around USD 6.56 billion, with the potential to create over 226,000 jobs, according to government data.
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Beyond business, President Samia underscored the importance of cultural and linguistic engagement. She called on the Diaspora to help spread and preserve Kiswahili, a language now spoken by more than 200 million people globally. The government plans to establish 100 Kiswahili centers abroad, not only to promote the language but also to strengthen cultural diplomacy and open new avenues for Tanzanian influence across the globe.
This initiative ties closely to Tanzania’s broader foreign policy priorities, including economic diplomacy, national branding, and strengthening people-to-people ties. The policy also supports the goals of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in creating meaningful partnerships with Tanzanians abroad.
As Tanzania continues to climb the ranks of emerging economies, with growth projections placing it among the top 20 fastest-growing economies globally (source), the president’s message was both symbolic and strategic.
Her call is not merely about patriotism—it’s about opportunity, unity, and shared prosperity. With peace and stability as its backbone, Tanzania is opening its arms to its sons and daughters overseas, inviting them to play a direct role in the country’s economic and social transformation.
