By Deodatus Balile, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
President Samia Suluhu Hassan delivered a historic speech at the G20 Summit, posing tough questions to world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and other leaders of the world’s 20 wealthiest nations. She called for the global community to reject extreme poverty, end hunger, provide opportunities for Africa, ensure equitable access to development financing, and above all, advocate for the cancellation of developing countries’ debts.
“I extend my gratitude to President Lula da Silva [of Brazil] for the invitation and for the exceptional hospitality. Today, we find ourselves in a world of great wealth, yet Africa continues to grapple with unbearable levels of poverty, hunger, disease, malnutrition, and under-productivity. A world where a majority of the youth face challenges exacerbated by conflicts and global policies that increase food insecurity, stifle competitiveness, and limit access to markets and necessary technology.
“A world where many still wait for globalization’s promise of prosperity to materialize, remaining hopeful that global governance reforms will bring equitable representation and access to the resources required to eradicate poverty. However, if we leave the world as it is, the question we’ll be asking in 2030 won’t be ‘how much progress did we make towards the SDGs?’ but rather ‘how many more people have been left behind?’
After highlighting these harsh realities, President Samia continued: “Excellences, we believe that a fair, just, and sustainable world can be achieved when developing countries like mine receive the support, resources, and representation needed to drive sustainable development.
“Despite the challenges, Tanzania has implemented significant policy and institutional reforms, along with strategic investments, to transform our agri-food systems. With 61.5% of our workforce engaged in agriculture, our efforts have raised the sector’s growth rate to 4.2%, achieved a food self-sufficiency level of 128%, and reduced poverty levels to 26.4% in 2023.
“Nevertheless, challenges remain, including limited mechanization, fertilizer use, and research and development (R&D). We believe that with targeted support, we can better harness innovation, build resilience, and foster more meaningful and inclusive growth.”
President Samia also addressed global economic systems: “My specific appeal to the G20 is to reallocate Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to African financial institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB). Alongside the need for a fairer quota system in the current international financial framework, Tanzania calls for more debt relief mechanisms, grants, and concessional loans that address our needs and vulnerabilities.”
Special Drawing Rights, established by the IMF in 1969, recognize valuable reserves or assets used as collateral for low-interest loans. In the past, gold was the primary collateral for such loans. Recently, five global currencies—U.S. Dollar, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Euro, and Chinese Renminbi— literally have replaced gold as recognized reserves.
If adopted, this approach could alleviate the financial burden of developing nations like Tanzania, which allocate a significant portion of their tax revenues to debt repayments, largely attributed to high-interest rates.
President Samia expressed support for enhanced partnerships like the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to spur innovation and inclusive growth. “This summit reflects our collective commitment to not leave the world as it is. We must intensify our efforts and renew our commitments to building a fair, prosperous, and just world,” she said.
Her participation at the G20 Summit has marked another milestone in Tanzania’s diplomatic efforts to open up and grow its economy. Globally, President Samia has earned respect, becoming the first Tanzanian President to attend the summit of the world’s 20 largest economies.
The global economy, valued at $110 trillion, is predominantly controlled by 10 nations contributing 76% of the world’s GDP. Developing nations, including Tanzania, account for only 8% of global trade.
G20 members comprise 19 nations and the European Union, now joined by the African Union. As of 2024, the GDP values of these nations, in trillions of USD, are as follows:
United States (26.7), China (19.37), Germany (4.72), India (4.47), Japan (4.4), UK (3.07), France (2.78), Russia (2.24), Canada (2.14), Italy (2.01), Brazil (1.92), Australia (1.68), South Korea (1.67), Mexico (1.41), Indonesia (1.31), Saudi Arabia (1.1), Turkey (0.91), Argentina (0.63), South Africa (0.4). The EU collectively is said to have a GDP of $16 trillion.
The G20 Summit offers Tanzania an unparalleled platform to engage in global discussions on economic development, trade, and challenges like climate change and food security.
This participation strengthens Tanzania’s diplomatic ties with influential nations, attracting major investors and fostering socio-economic and technological cooperation. Experts suggest Tanzania will leverage this opportunity to attract investments in strategic sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
Tanzania’s presence at the G20 Summit also allows the nation to advocate for regional and international agendas aligned with its interests. Key priorities include financial assistance for developing nations through concessional loans and fairer trade policies for agricultural and natural resource products.
President Samia’s leadership on issues like Clean Cooking Energy and poverty eradication has gained recognition. For instance, Tanzania is set to host a World Bank-organized African summit on clean cooking energy in January.
Tanzania’s strategic mineral wealth, including nickel for batteries and abundant natural gas for LNG production, positions it as a key player in global energy transitions. Meanwhile, its agricultural achievements, such as reaching 128% food self-sufficiency, underscore its potential to drive sustainable development.
By attending the G20 Summit, Tanzania continues to establish itself as a rising star in global diplomacy and development.
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