By Prosper Makene
Tanzania used its participation in the International Telecommunication Union’s two-day high-level meeting on AI Governance in Geneva to reaffirm its commitment to technology policy that delivers direct benefits to citizens.
Minister of Communication and Information Technology and MP for Kibamba, Hon. Angellah Jasmine Kairuki, represented Tanzania at the meeting. Hon. Kairuki also serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds established by the ITU. She said the country is ready to engage and ensure that global discussions on artificial intelligence translate into practical gains at home. The forum brought together governments, industry, and civil society to shape international norms on the safe and equitable use of AI.
While in Geneva, the Minister visited the offices of the Permanent Mission of Tanzania to the UN. She met with staff and stressed that Tanzania must remain at the forefront of multilateral engagements, with every action responding to the needs and questions of Tanzanians.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Kairuki held talks with leaders from multiple organizations, underscoring Tanzania’s close collaboration with international partners. She met with ITU leadership, noting that Tanzania maintains strong cooperation with the agency. She also highlighted the significance of women leading in both global and national tech policy spaces, saying this shared leadership creates space for more inclusive approaches to digital governance.
Minister Kairuki pointed to early gains from Tanzania’s digital initiatives, particularly where AI and data systems are being applied in public services, trade facilitation, and agriculture. She noted that consistent participation in international meetings helps the country benchmark progress and bring back actionable insights for domestic implementation.
She said this approach aligns with Tanzania’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at improving service delivery and expanding economic opportunity. Looking ahead, she stated that Tanzania plans to strengthen its participation in global standard-setting processes while building domestic capacity to implement agreed frameworks.
The focus, she added, will remain on ensuring that emerging technologies support inclusive growth, data sovereignty, and job creation for Tanzanians.
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