Ethiopia, India Sign Key Agreements as PM Abiy Hosts Modi at National Palace
Addis Ababa, December 16, 2025 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, where the two leaders held official talks and presided over the signing of key bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s institutional capacity, trade, and peacekeeping engagement.
The Indian prime minister was welcomed in a grand ceremony organized and hosted by Prime Minister Abiy. The event included a formal reception and a tête-à-tête meeting between the two leaders, followed by extended discussions between their respective delegations.
“I had the pleasure of welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at the National Palace during an official ceremony,” Prime Minister Abiy said. “We held a productive meeting, exploring renewed avenues of cooperation that reflect the growing partnership and shared priorities between Ethiopia and India.”
On the occasion, Prime Minister Abiy and Prime Minister Modi presided over the exchange of several agreements, including an Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Data Centre within Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in United Nations Peacekeeping.
Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the agreements “reinforce our joint commitment to international peace and security” while also supporting Ethiopia’s efforts to enhance institutional capacity and improve trade and customs administration.
“India has been a longstanding partner of Ethiopia, and today’s meetings underscore our shared commitment to expanding collaboration across multiple sectors for the mutual benefit of our nations,” the Prime Minister added.
Ethiopia and India have maintained long-standing diplomatic relations, spanning development partnership, capacity building, and multilateral cooperation. PM Abiy’s hosting of the visit highlights Ethiopia’s proactive diplomatic engagement and continued efforts to strengthen its role in regional and global affairs.