Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 28/2025
24 April 2025
President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb will pay a state visit to the United Republic of Tanzania on 14–16 May 2025. The state visit will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Tanzania.
President Stubb will meet President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday 14 May. The Presidents will discuss bilateral relations between Finland and Tanzania, geopolitical changes, global challenges and their impact on African countries and Europe. The first day will end with an official state banquet hosted by President Suluhu Hassan.
President Stubb will be one of the keynote speakers at the Martti Ahtisaari Legacy Seminar, organised by the CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, the Embassy of Finland in Tanzania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperaation of Tanzania. The seminar, which honours the legacy of President Ahtisaari’s work for peace, is part of a series of discussions on the future of peace mediation. The programme will also include a working luncheon focusing on regional peace and security issues.
During the visit, President Stubb will participate in the UNDP Innovation Week conference and Business Finland’s seminar focusing on health and the built environment, where he will deliver remarks. The President will also visit the Botanical Gardens of Dar es Salaam for the launch of the Finnish-Tanzanian project Forestry, Land Use and Value Chains Development.
The programme also includes an introduction to a UN Women project, which promotes the status and economic rights of women in Tanzania, and a visit to the National Museum of Tanzania.
The Finnish Ambassador to Tanzania will host a formal reception in honour of the state visit.
The spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, will have a separate programme in addition to the joint programme of the presidential couple. On Thursday 15 May, she will visit Zanzibar, where she will meet Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of the President of Zanzibar. She will also meet with the Zanzibar Minister for Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, actors from organisations working for women’s and girls’ rights, and representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). On Friday 16 May, Suzanne Innes-Stubb will give address a graduation ceremony at the Uongozi Institute, which works with leadership in sustainable development.
President Stubb will be accompanied on the state visit by Member of Parliament, Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Kenya Saara-Sofia Sirén, and Member of Parliament, Vice Chair of the Finnish Parliament Group on Global Issues Inka Hopsu, as well as a Finnish business delegation with representatives from a wide range of business sectors.
The previous presidential visit from Finland to Tanzania was made by President Tarja Halonen in 2003.
This press release was updated on 9 May 2025 to include information about Mrs Suzanne Innes-Stubbs’ programme in Tanzania.
