PM Modi Meets Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed; Reinforces Development Cooperation At G20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in Johannesburg on Saturday, on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The meeting highlighted the longstanding ties between the two nations, built on shared development priorities and decades of diplomatic engagement.

Following the interaction, PM Modi posted on X: “Met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. India and Ethiopia share a partnership rooted in history and strengthened by developmental cooperation. We will keep boosting ties in sectors like technology, skilling and more.”

His remarks reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.

India and Ethiopia enjoy more than seventy years of diplomatic relations, marked by robust collaboration in capacity-building, infrastructure development, and economic growth.

Ethiopia remains one of the largest beneficiaries of Indian Lines of Credit in Africa, with projects covering power transmission, rural electrification, rail connectivity, and agriculture-based infrastructure.

Indian companies have also emerged as significant investors in Ethiopia, particularly in manufacturing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and information technology, contributing to economic diversification and job creation.

Focus on Technology and Skilling

Technology partnership and skilling—highlighted in the Prime Minister’s message—form core pillars of bilateral cooperation.

India has supported Ethiopia through numerous digital capacity-building initiatives, including IT training centres and institutions promoting science, engineering, and technical education.

Thousands of Ethiopian professionals have received training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme in areas such as governance, healthcare, IT, and public administration.

The meeting came at a time when India is deepening its engagement with African partners on global platforms.

Ethiopia’s presence at the Summit follows the African Union’s induction as a permanent G20 member during India’s presidency—a move welcomed by both countries as a historic step towards amplifying Global South representation in global decision-making.

PM Modi’s brief but strategic interaction with Abiy Ahmed Ali added to a series of high-level discussions with world leaders in Johannesburg.

The Summit’s agenda included sustainable development, economic stability, digital cooperation, and multilateral reforms—areas where India and Ethiopia share common goals.

The meeting underscored the continuity of India’s development-focused diplomacy in Africa and charted a path for deeper collaboration in the years ahead.

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