India–Ethiopia Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership During Prime Minister Modi’s Visit.
New Delhi/Addis Ababa:
India and Ethiopia have taken a major step forward in strengthening their bilateral relationship with the elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ethiopia. The visit marked a significant milestone, underscoring the growing political, economic, developmental, and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries.
As part of the visit, several key agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed, reflecting a shared commitment to deepen collaboration across a wide range of sectors.
One of the major outcomes was the signing of an Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, preventing customs-related offences, and improving information exchange between the two countries’ customs authorities.
In a move to strengthen digital and institutional capacity, an MoU for Establishing a Data Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia was concluded. This initiative is expected to support Ethiopia’s efforts in modernizing its digital infrastructure and improving the efficiency and security of data management in government operations.
India and Ethiopia also signed an Implementing Arrangement for Co-operation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Training, reinforcing their shared commitment to global peace and security. The arrangement will enable structured cooperation in training peacekeepers, drawing on India’s extensive experience in UN peacekeeping missions.
Reflecting India’s continued support for Ethiopia’s economic recovery, the two sides signed an MoU on Debt Restructuring in respect of Ethiopia under the G20 Common Framework. This agreement demonstrates India’s constructive role in addressing global debt challenges and supporting sustainable development in partner countries.
People-to-people ties received a major boost with the doubling of scholarships for Ethiopian students under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship programme. This expansion will provide greater educational opportunities for Ethiopian scholars in Indian institutions.
Additionally, India announced specialized short-term courses in Artificial Intelligence under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme for Ethiopian students and professionals. These courses aim to build capacity in emerging technologies and support Ethiopia’s digital transformation goals.
In the healthcare sector, India committed to augmenting the capacity of the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Addis Ababa, particularly in the fields of maternal healthcare and neonatal care. This initiative is expected to significantly improve healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns and further strengthen India’s role as a trusted development partner.
Overall, Prime Minister Modi’s visit has laid a strong foundation for a deeper and more comprehensive India–Ethiopia Strategic Partnership, anchored in mutual respect, shared development priorities, and a common vision for peace, prosperity, and technological progress.
