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India and Ethiopia Sign New MoUs to Deepen Bilateral Cooperation
India and Ethiopia have signed three new memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in customs administration, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and financial governance, during a one-day visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Ethiopian capital.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, alongside senior officials from both countries, including ministers of foreign affairs, finance, defense, and senior figures from intelligence, health, and economic institutions.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Addis Ababa late Tuesday on his first official visit to Ethiopia, receiving a formal welcome from Abiy Ahmed at the airport followed by an official ceremony at the National Palace. The visit underscores New Delhi’s growing diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa.
As part of the visit, Modi is scheduled to address the Ethiopian parliament, becoming the first Indian prime minister to speak before the legislative body. He is also set to meet African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf to discuss India’s broader partnership with the African continent.
Indian officials described the visit as significant for both bilateral relations and India’s regional outreach, highlighting New Delhi’s intention to strengthen economic ties and development cooperation across Africa. An Ethiopian Foreign Ministry official noted that Addis Ababa relies on India in key sectors such as technology and pharmaceutical imports, emphasizing that diplomatic relations between the two countries date back to the 1940s.
Economic ties between the two nations have expanded steadily in recent years. India is currently Ethiopia’s third-largest foreign investor, with more than 600 Indian companies operating in sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. Total Indian investments in Ethiopia are estimated at around $3 billion, reflecting both countries’ interest in broadening cooperation across multiple fields.
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