Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his Prosperity Party on their decisive victory in Ethiopia’s parliamentary elections, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with the East African nation.
“Heartiest congratulations to my friend, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and the Prosperity Party for a decisive victory in the Ethiopian parliamentary elections,” PM Modi wrote on X.
“India greatly cherishes its historic, multifaceted and deep-rooted ties with Ethiopia. I fondly recall my visit to Ethiopia last year and look forward to working closely together to further strengthen our Strategic Partnership and the bonds of friendship between our peoples,” he added.
The congratulatory message came after the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) on Sunday declared the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) the winner of the country’s seventh General Election, clearing the way for it to form a new government.
Announcing the official results in Addis Ababa, the NEBE said the PP secured 438 of the 486 contested seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR), the lower chamber of Ethiopia’s parliament, in the June 1 General Election.
Under Ethiopia’s Constitution, the political party or coalition that wins a majority in the HoPR is mandated to form the government and nominate the Prime Minister.
PM Modi visited Ethiopia last December, a trip that gave fresh momentum to India-Ethiopia ties.
During the visit, PM Modi conveyed India’s willingness to step up collaboration in the fields of Digital Public Infrastructure, mining, critical minerals, clean energy, food security and agriculture.
The two leaders also reviewed progress in the areas of trade and investment, innovation and technology, education and capacity building.
During the visit, Modi noted that Indian companies, as trusted partners, had invested more than $5 billion in the Ethiopian economy, particularly in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors, creating over 75,000 local jobs.
Prime Minister Modi also addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, a special honour accorded to him during his first bilateral visit to the country.
–IANS
