Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has called for a strategic relationship with Ethiopia.

In a special address at Ethiopia’s parliament, Modi emphasised the scope for India and Ethiopia to play a larger role in securing regional peace and connectivity, and to cooperate more closely in areas ranging from trade and investment to mining and food security.

He told parliamentarians during the special address that the Global South “is writing its own destiny, and India and Ethiopia share a vision for it.”

“Our vision is of a world where the Global South rises not against anyone, but for everyone; a world where development is fair, where technology is accessible, and where sovereignty is respected.

“A world where decision-making reflects today’s reality, not the world of 1945, because the world cannot move forward if its systems remain locked in the past.”
Narendra Modi

The speech was the final engagement in Modi’s two-day visit to the African country, the second leg of a three-nation tour, and came against the backdrop of India’s efforts to position itself as the voice of the Global South amid intense geopolitical churn on the international stage.

India has emphasised a “Global Development Compact” to prioritise technology sharing, affordable finance, capacity building and trade for sustainable growth, and backed an “Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative” at the G20 Summit in November to build local capacities aimed at inclusive development.

Modi stated that while Ethiopia sits at a crossroads in Africa, India is at the heart of the Indian Ocean, and this makes the two countries “natural partners in regional peace, security and connectivity.” Cooperation in this sphere has been strengthened with the signing this year of a Defence Cooperation Agreement for collaboration in cybersecurity, defence industries and joint research.

Modi disclosed that Indian companies are among the largest investors in Ethiopia, with inflows of more than $5 billion in sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, agriculture and health creating more than 75,000 local jobs.

He added that the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership will unleash the potential of the two economies through cooperation in technology, innovation, mining and clean energy.

Both sides will also cooperate in food security, health security, and enhance cooperation in defence and security matters, he said, while reiterating the historic links between India and Ethiopia.

The leaders signed a number of memorandums of understanding and promised to cooperate on the training of United Nations peacekeepers, education, and the establishment of a data center at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They also pledged to help Ethiopia navigate its mounting international debt under the G20 Common Framework and to combat terrorism.

Modi Conferred With Ethiopia’s Highest Civilian Honor

Modi was on Tuesday conferred with Ethiopia’s highest civilian honor, the “Great Honor Nishan Ethiopia,” by his Ethiopian counterpart, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He was the first foreign head of state to receive the recognition.

Ethiopia became a full-fledged member of the BRICS grouping of countries last year, joining nations such as Iran and Egypt, as it seeks new partnerships after emerging from a two-year civil war in its northern province of Tigray.

India is set to host the 18th BRICS summit next year. The Ethiopian government has been looking for new partners as its relationship with the United States wanes. Washington suspended Ethiopia’s duty-free access to the American market in 2022, a move that affected its once-growing economy, and recently ended humanitarian assistance following the cancellation of USAID-funded programs.

India remains a popular destination for medical tourism and higher education for many Ethiopians seeking affordable services that remain elusive at home.

Before addressing the Parliament, Modi laid a wreath at the Adwa Victory Monument in Addis Ababa, which is dedicated to Ethiopian soldiers killed in the Battle of Adwa in 1896.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali accompanied Modi to the airport and saw him off as he travelled to Oman for the final leg of his tour.