PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is next week expected to take part in the 2024 G20 leaders' summit in Rio de Janeiro, by invitation from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

A statement by the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry yesterday said that this invitation will enhance the country’s global profile and accelerate achievement of its development goals.

The ministry said that the meeting will be held early next week for two days, where President Samia will be noticeable as the first female president and also invited to attend the G20 summit by initiative of the host country as the venues rotate on each occasion.

The group is an expanded version of the G7 meeting when it used to have eight members, and then opted to exclude Russia, thus creating the G20 forum in 2009 with a less cohesive policy format or binding decisions compared to G7.

Earlier the late president Benjamin Mkapa and his successor, Jakaya Kikwete participated in G8 summits in 2005 and in 2008 respectively, while the new invitation isi said to highlight Tanzania’s growing visibility on the global stage, tied to numerous visits outside and continental initiatives by President Samia.

Foreign leaders consult with the president on initiatives like empowering youth and women, or addressing persistent challenges in energy transition, or impacts of climate change, the statement indicated.

A continental food security summit was held in Dar es Salaam mid last year, with some priorities of the 2024 G20 summit considered to closely align with the president’s initiatives.

Some of the issues expected to be raised at the G20 meeting relate to wider funding and forging partnerships for the clean cooking initiatives, renewable energy infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture, it said.

G20 participation will also provide a platform to address the challenges of climate change on food systems, promote regional resilience and attract investment to strengthen  food security initiatives, it added.