New Delhi/Addis Ababa, 17 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his landmark two-day state visit to Ethiopia on Tuesday, elevating bilateral ties with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to a comprehensive Strategic Partnership following extensive discussions at the Ethiopian National Palace.
PM Modi arrived in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, December 16, greeted by Abiy in a rare personal gesture at the airport, where the Nobel laureate escorted him to his hotel via an impromptu detour to the Science Museum and Friendship Park, symbolizing the depth of mutual regard.
The city brimmed with welcome banners and Indian tricolours, underscoring Ethiopia's enthusiasm for Modi's first bilateral trip since 2011, which forms the pivotal second leg of his four-day, three-nation itinerary—spanning Jordan (December 15-16), Ethiopia (16-17), and culminating in Oman.
Earlier, Abiy conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honour, the 'Great Honour Nishan,' upon Modi at the Addis Ababa International Convention Centre, lauding his global statesmanship and contributions to India-Ethiopia amity.
In a pivotal address post-talks, PM Modi articulated three cornerstone proposals to invigorate the partnership: fortifying food and health security through sustainable agriculture, natural farming, and agri-tech innovations; amplifying capacity-building via novel artificial intelligence initiatives and doubled Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships to empower Ethiopian youth; and advancing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) collaboration to catalyse inclusive growth.
These priorities, drawn verbatim from Modi's official statement, yielded tangible outcomes, including Memoranda of Understanding on a Foreign Ministry data centre, UN peacekeeping training, customs cooperation, and G20-aligned debt restructuring.
The accords further encompass healthcare enhancements at Addis Ababa's Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, targeting maternal and neonatal care, alongside ITEC AI short courses, reflecting India's commitment to Ethiopia's economic resilience amid robust GDP expansion and over 615 Indian firms bolstering local investment.
As PM Modi prepares to depart for Oman, this elevation infuses fresh momentum into South-South solidarity, with both leaders affirming shared democratic values and Global South priorities.��
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
