Prime Minister Narendra Modi Holds Bilateral Talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed; India–Ethiopia Ties Elevated to Strategic Partnership.
Addis Ababa:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held wide-ranging bilateral talks with H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, at the National Palace in Addis Ababa. On arrival, Prime Minister Modi was warmly received by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and accorded a ceremonial welcome, reflecting the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
The two leaders held discussions in one-on-one, restricted, and delegation-level formats. They reviewed the entire spectrum of India–Ethiopia relations, which are anchored in centuries-old civilizational links and reinforced by robust people-to-people ties. Recognizing the growing depth and strategic significance of the relationship, the leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership.
As partners from the Global South, both leaders emphasized the importance of working together to promote an inclusive, equitable, and representative global order. Prime Minister Modi recalled that it was a singular honour for India to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s Presidency in 2023. He also thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and for its steadfast support in strengthening the global fight against terrorism.
The leaders reviewed progress across the multifaceted partnership, including cooperation in trade and investment, innovation and technology, education and capacity building, and defence. Prime Minister Modi conveyed India’s readiness to further enhance collaboration with Ethiopia in priority areas such as health security, digital health, traditional medicine, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, food security, sustainable agriculture, natural farming, and agri-tech. Both leaders noted that the strong development partnership between the two countries continues to add value to their close people-to-people relations.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The two Prime Ministers reviewed collaboration in Digital Public Infrastructure, mining, critical minerals, and clean energy. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Indian companies, as trusted partners, have invested over USD 5 billion in Ethiopia, particularly in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors, generating employment for more than 75,000 local people.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to jointly voicing the concerns and priorities of the Global South and discussed closer coordination in multilateral forums, including the United Nations. They called for enhanced cooperation on climate change, renewable energy, and disaster risk reduction. In this context, they welcomed the role of international initiatives such as the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), and the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Prime Minister Modi also noted that India looked forward to working closely with Ethiopia as BRICS partners during its presidency and in the lead-up to the proposed India–Africa Forum Summit.
Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of three Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Training, Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, and Establishment of a Data Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed hosted a banquet in honour of Prime Minister Modi. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to visit India, which was graciously accepted, further underscoring the warmth and forward-looking nature of India–Ethiopia relations.
