New Delhi |Dec 22, 2025 | External Affairs
INDIA and Ethiopia significantly upgraded their bilateral relationship during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Addis Ababa on December 16–17, 2025, marking a major diplomatic milestone in India’s engagement with Africa. The two nations formally elevated their ties to a ‘Strategic Partnership’, laying the foundation for deeper cooperation in trade, security, capacity building, and development.
The latest engagements reflect India’s renewed Africa focus under the “Global South solidarity” framework, with Ethiopia seen as a key gateway to the Horn of Africa and the African Union bloc.
Strengthening Governance, Trade & Peacekeeping
A major highlight was the signing of an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, designed to expand trade linkages and ensure smoother movement of goods between the two economies.
Recognising Ethiopia's longstanding role as a top contributor to UN missions, India and Ethiopia signed an Implementing Arrangement for cooperation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Training, reaffirming their shared commitment to global peace and multilateralism.
Digital Capacity & Debt Framework Engagement
India will support Ethiopia’s digital transformation by establishing a Data Centre for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enhancing cyber-resilience and e-governance capabilities at the heart of Ethiopian diplomacy.
In a major financial cooperation step, India signed an MoU on restructuring Ethiopia’s debt under the G20 Common Framework, signalling commitment to sustainable development financing and economic stability for Addis Ababa.
Education, Health & AI Skill Building: Human-Centric Partnership
Reinforcing people-to-people cooperation, India doubled scholarships for Ethiopian students under the ICCR programme, expanding academic opportunities across Indian universities.
To bridge emerging skills gaps, India also announced specialised short-term training courses in Artificial Intelligence under the ITEC programme for Ethiopian students and professionals—aligning capacity building with the digital future.
In the health sector, India will augment the capabilities of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Addis Ababa with targeted support in maternal and neonatal care, reflecting India’s sustained developmental cooperation with Ethiopia.
A Strategic Reset in India–Africa Relations
The outcomes underline India’s intent to emerge as a long-term partner in Africa’s developmental journey while broadening strategic convergence in global governance, technology, health, and peacekeeping.
The visit places New Delhi and Addis Ababa on a more aligned path heading into 2026, with both sides expected to outline implementation timelines at the next high-level engagement.
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