Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held bilateral talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, during which the two leaders agreed to elevate India-Ethiopia relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership.
PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome on arrival at the National Palace, where the discussions were held in one-on-one, restricted and delegation-level formats. The leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties, rooted in long-standing civilisational links and strengthened by close people-to-people relations.
As partners in the Global South, the two leaders underscored the need for continued cooperation to promote inclusive global development. PM Modi recalled India’s role in welcoming the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency in 2023 and thanked Ethiopia for its support in the global fight against terrorism, including its solidarity with India after the Pahalgam terror attack.
The discussions covered key areas of cooperation such as trade and investment, innovation and technology, education and capacity building, and defence. PM Modi conveyed India’s readiness to expand collaboration with Ethiopia in health security, digital health, traditional medicine, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, food security, sustainable agriculture, natural farming and agri-tech. Both leaders noted that the development partnership between the two countries continues to reinforce strong people-to-people ties.
On the economic front, the two sides reviewed cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure, mining, critical minerals and clean energy. PM Modi said Indian companies have invested over USD 5 billion in Ethiopia, particularly in manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, generating more than 75,000 local jobs.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues and reaffirmed their commitment to jointly raise the concerns of the Global South in multilateral forums, including the United Nations. They called for closer cooperation on climate change, renewable energy and disaster risk reduction, and welcomed collaboration through international initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Global Biofuel Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance. PM Modi said India looks forward to working closely with Ethiopia as BRICS partners and in the proposed India–Africa Forum Summit.
Following the talks, three Memoranda of Understanding were exchanged in the areas of United Nations peacekeeping operations training, mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, and the establishment of a data centre at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the talks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hosted a banquet in honour of PM Modi.
PM Modi also Modi invited his Ethiopian counterpart to visit India, which he accepted.
