From Ancient Seas To Strategic Heights: PM Modi Ignites India-Ethiopia Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday delivered a sweeping and emotionally charged address to a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament, framing India and Ethiopia as nations bound by shared warmth, democratic spirit, and centuries of civilisational exchange.

Speaking with historical depth and political clarity, PM Modi said the two countries share ‘warmth in climate and spirit’, a bond that predates formal diplomacy and continues to shape modern strategic cooperation.

Recalling ancient maritime routes, Prime Minister Modi said Indian and Ethiopian ancestors built bridges across the Indian Ocean nearly 2,000 years ago.

Traders carried spices, cotton, coffee, and gold, but more importantly, they exchanged ideas, stories, and ways of life.

Ports such as Adulis and Dholera, he said, served not merely as trade hubs but as enduring connectors between two great civilisations.

PM Modi traced the modern chapter of ties to 1941, when Indian soldiers fought alongside Ethiopians during the liberation struggle. He stressed that people-to-people relations flourished even before embassies opened.

Thousands of Indian teachers travelled across Ethiopia, from Addis Ababa to regional towns, educating generations of students and leaving a lasting imprint on Ethiopian society.

Ethiopian students, in turn, studied in India and returned home as architects of a modern nation.

Highlighting India’s role as a reliable partner, PM Modi said Ethiopia’s decision to entrust India with developing its foreign ministry’s data centre reflects deep confidence.

He recalled India’s global outreach during the COVID-19 crisis, noting that despite limited resources, India supplied medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries, including more than four million doses to Ethiopia.

Democracy as a Shared Journey

Calling both nations vibrant and diverse democracies, PM Modi said democracy remains a lived journey shaped by debate, disagreement, and faith in the rule of law.

He drew a symbolic parallel between the constitutions of both countries, saying their opening words affirm that the destiny of nations lies in the hands of their people.

The Prime Minister announced a decisive breakthrough: India and Ethiopia have elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership.

He said the move will unlock cooperation in technology, innovation, mining, sustainability, and clean energy, while strengthening food security, health systems, and capacity building.

PM Modi underlined India’s growing economic footprint, noting Indian companies have invested over USD 5 billion in Ethiopia and created more than 75,000 local jobs.

He said agriculture offers another powerful pillar of collaboration, with opportunities spanning climate-resilient farming, irrigation, dairy, mechanisation, millet research, and food processing.

The address sent a clear political signal. India is positioning Ethiopia as a cornerstone of its Africa strategy, rooted in respect, shared growth, and Global South solidarity.

Also Read: PM Modi Draws Parallels Between India And Ethiopia; Hails Both Nations’ Reverence For ‘Motherland’