Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meets Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed Ali, Discusses Health Security, Development

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Updated: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 9:02 [IST]

Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi’s
visit
to
Ethiopia
has
moved
India
Ethiopia
relations
into
a
new
phase,
with
both
countries
agreeing
to
upgrade
ties
to
a
Strategic
Partnership
and
focus
on
three
main
areas:
food
and
health
security,
capacity
building,
and
Digital
Public
Infrastructure
to
support
shared
development
goals.

The
talks
produced
several
concrete
decisions,
including
plans
for
customised
cooperation
projects,
setting
up
a
dedicated
data
centre
in
Ethiopia,
and
expanding
training
related
to
UN
peacekeeping.
India
and
Ethiopia
also
signed
a
memorandum
of
understanding
on
debt
restructuring
under
the
G20
Common
Framework,
and
broadened
educational
cooperation
through
more
scholarships
and
specialised
artificial
intelligence
courses.

Recent
outcomes
of
India
Ethiopia
Strategic
Partnership

Strengthening
food
and
health
security
under
the
Strategic
Partnership
will
involve
closer
collaboration
in
sustainable
agriculture,
natural
farming
methods,
and
agri
tech,
aiming
to
improve
Ethiopia’s
food
security.
Capacity
building
will
advance
through
new
artificial
intelligence
programmes
and
a
decision
to
double
scholarships
for
Ethiopian
students,
enabling
more
youth
to
study
in
India
and
build
long
term
academic
and
professional
links.

Cooperation
on
Digital
Public
Infrastructure
is
planned
to
encourage
innovation
and
support
economic
growth
in
both
countries.
Officials
view
this
digital
focus
as
a
key
pillar
of
the
Strategic
Partnership,
alongside
agriculture
and
education.
Together,
these
areas
show
an
expanding
India
Ethiopia
relations
agenda
that
centres
on
inclusive
growth,
technology
exchange,
and
skills
development.

In
a
post
on
X,
PM
Modi
said,
“Held
extensive
discussions
with
PM
Abiy
Ahmed
Ali.
We
have
decided
to
elevate
the
India-Ethiopia
ties
to
a
Strategic
Partnership.
Gave
three
key
suggestions
to
enhance
bilateral
ties:
Deepen
relations
in
food
security
and
health
security.
This
includes
cooperation
in
sustainable
agriculture,
natural
farming
and
agri-tech.
Boost
capacity
building.
Today,
we
have
decided
to
introduce
new
programmes
in
artificial
intelligence
and
to
double
student
scholarships.
This
will
enable
many
more
Ethiopian
students
to
access
higher
education
opportunities
in
India
and
strengthen
youth-to-youth
engagement.
Work
extensively
on
Digital
Public
Infrastructure
(DPI).”

India
Ethiopia
Strategic
Partnership
and
wider
cooperation

PM
Modi
noted
that
discussions
also
covered
a
wider
set
of
sectors
linked
to
India
Ethiopia
relations
and
the
new
Strategic
Partnership.
He
added,
“Other
aspects
that
featured
in
our
talks
include
enhancing
collaboration
in
pharmaceuticals,
digital
health,
medical
tourism
and
more.
Sectors
such
as
energy
and
critical
minerals
also
offer
many
opportunities.” These
areas
connect
directly
to
health
security,
economic
resilience,
and
future
oriented
industrial
cooperation.

Cultural
engagement
was
also
part
of
the
India
Ethiopia
relations
agenda
during
the
Strategic
Partnership
visit.
Ethiopian
Prime
Minister
Abiy
Ahmed
Ali
accompanied
PM
Modi
to
the
National
Palace
Museum.
In
a
post
on
X,
PM
Modi
said,
“Gratitude
to
Prime
Minister
Abiy
Ahmed
Ali
for
showing
me
glimpses
of
Ethiopian
history
and
culture
at
the
National
Palace
Museum
in
Addis
Ababa.
It
was
a
powerful
reminder
of
Ethiopia’s
rich
traditions.”

India
Ethiopia
Strategic
Partnership
visit
details

State
protocol
underlined
the
importance
of
the
India
Ethiopia
relations
upgrade.
PM
Modi
received
a
ceremonial
welcome
at
the
National
Palace
in
Addis
Ababa,
reflecting
long
standing
ties.
Another
post
on
X
stated,
“Received
a
ceremonial
welcome
at
the
National
Palace
in
Addis
Ababa.
This
visit
marks
another
step
forward
in
strengthening
the
enduring
partnership
between
India
and
Ethiopia.”

PM
Modi
arrived
in
Ethiopia
on
Tuesday
for
a
2
day
visit
and
was
greeted
with
a
warm
reception
at
the
airport.
Across
the
visit,
both
sides
confirmed
that
the
Strategic
Partnership,
with
its
focus
on
food
and
health
security,
capacity
building,
and
Digital
Public
Infrastructure,
will
guide
future
cooperation
and
support
shared
economic
and
social
priorities.