Addis Ababa, 17 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invoked a two-thousand-year-old bond between India and Ethiopia, announcing the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during his address to a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament.

Shared Warmth and Economic Synergies

PM Modi, on the second leg of his three-nation tour, emphasized the inherent warmth in both nations' climates and spirits, positioning Indian companies among Ethiopia's foremost investors with over five billion dollars infused across sectors, generating more than 75,000 jobs.He heralded Ethiopia as a natural ally in regional peace, security, and connectivity—India nestled in the Indian Ocean, Ethiopia serving as Africa's gateway—while urging the global community to transcend antiquated systems amid the Global South's resurgence.

Historical Bridges and Modern Milestones

Evoking ancient ports like Addis and Dholera as conduits not merely for commerce in spices and gold but for civilizations' ideas and lifestyles, Modi recounted Indian soldiers' 1941 camaraderie in Ethiopia's liberation struggle, marking a new epoch in ties. He lauded the Ethiopian Parliament's edifice where public consensus manifests as state will, propelling projects forward, and drew poignant parallels between both anthems personifying the land as mother.

PM Modi expressed gratitude for the 'Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia' accolade, spotlighted India's digital infrastructure revolutionizing service delivery—extending vaccines to over 150 nations, including four million doses to Ethiopia—and manifold progress in India-Africa relations over the past 11 years. Concluding, he engaged Ethiopian lawmakers, solidifying the deepened partnership.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar