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Addis Ababa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an unusually warm and personal welcome in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally received him at the airport and accompanied him to his hotel.
In a gesture that went beyond the official programme, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed drove PM Modi himself and made an unscheduled stop at the Science Museum and Friendship Park en route. The move, not part of the formal itinerary, was seen as a mark of personal regard by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate for the Indian leader.
PM Modi’s arrival in Ethiopia marks the second leg of his three-nation tour. The visit is his first to the East African nation and comes amid efforts to deepen India’s engagement with Africa and the Global South.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Prime Minister was accorded a vibrant and ceremonial reception. In a post on X, he highlighted the long-standing ties between the two countries and noted that Ethiopia is an important partner for India and a fellow member of BRICS.
During the visit, PM Modi is expected to hold comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, both in one-on-one and delegation-level formats. The discussions are likely to span political, economic and strategic cooperation, with an emphasis on trade expansion, connectivity and investment opportunities.
Key sectors under focus are expected to include infrastructure, information technology, mining, agriculture and manufacturing. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament.
India and Ethiopia share a long history of collaboration in education, skill development and capacity building. India continues to offer scholarships and professional training to Ethiopian students through programmes such as ITEC and ICCR.
India has also been supporting Ethiopia’s renewable energy ambitions, particularly through the International Solar Alliance. Initiatives such as the Solar Technology Application Resource Centre at Addis Ababa University are already operational.
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PM Modi arrived in Ethiopia from Jordan, where he held high-level talks with King Abdullah II. His three-nation tour will conclude with a visit to Oman, the final stop on the diplomatic itinerary.
