Samia takes development agenda to the G20 summit

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to present Tanzania’s initiatives to reduce poverty and promote food security at the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which starts today in Brazil’s seaside city of Rio de Janeiro.

Apart from leaders from the G20 members of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, and the African Union, the summit also involves guests from Spain, the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Rio G20 Leaders’ Summit is held under Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.

Of particular focus at the summit will be social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty, energy transitions and the promotion of sustainable development in its economic, social, environmental dimensions and the reform of global governance institutions.

According to a statement from the ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, President Hassan will use the occasion to highlight Tanzania’s initiatives to combat poverty and advance food security.

The minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, says in the statement that the summit’s agenda aligns closely with Tanzania’s national priorities, especially in sustainable development and energy access.

He said on the first day of the summit (Monday), President Hassan is participating in discussions on social inclusion, the fight against hunger and poverty alleviation, and issues central to Tanzania’s development goals.

“The G20 summit presents a unique opportunity for Tanzania to advocate for increased global support, especially in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and poverty reduction. Tanzania is committed to making progress in these areas, and the platform allows the country to collaborate with other nations on shared global challenges,” said Mr Kombo.

As a nation highly vulnerable to climate change, Tanzania is focused on climate-smart agriculture and policies that build resilience to climate shocks.

The summit’s discussions on sustainable energy transitions will also allow President Hassan to advocate for concessional financing and technological innovation in renewable energy, particularly clean cooking technologies and expanding renewable energy infrastructure.

He said Tanzania’s leadership in green energy and sustainable practices supports the country’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).

 These efforts align with Tanzania’s Vision 2025 and Zanzibar Vision 2050, both focused on driving economic growth through sustainable development.

In a historic development, the African Union (AU) is attending the G20 for the first time as a full member, having been admitted in 2023. This gives African countries, including Tanzania, a powerful platform to address global issues such as poverty, climate change, and food insecurity.

“Having the African Union represented in the G20 is a milestone for Africa to push for solutions for the continent’s most pressing challenges. This is a moment for African voices to be heard on the global stage,” he said in the statement.

According to him, President Hassan’s participation is particularly significant as it marks the first time a female head of state from Africa has attended the G20 Summit.

The G20 Summit, consisting of the world’s 19 major economies and the European Union, accounts for 75 percent of global trade and 85 percent of the world’s GDP. The theme of this year’s summit.

Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet will focus on key issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and poverty eradication.

He said that on the second day of the summit, President Hassan would also engage in discussions on global governance reform. Tanzania has advocated for a more inclusive and fairer global system, particularly for developing nations.