Prime Minister Modi Receives Ethiopia's Highest Civilian Honor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Ethiopia's highest civilian honor, 'The Great Honor Nishan of Ethiopia,' by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Tuesday. The award was presented during a special ceremony at the International Conference Center in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Modi became the first global leader to receive this prestigious honor.
While accepting the honor, Prime Minister Modi expressed that it was a moment of great pride and respect for him. He dedicated the award to the 1.4 billion people of India and expressed his gratitude to the people of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the award was given to Prime Minister Modi for strengthening the India-Ethiopia partnership and his visionary leadership on the global stage.
India-Ethiopia's Historical Ties
Prime Minister Modi stated that India and Ethiopia have had thousands of years of contact, dialogue, and cultural exchange. Both countries are symbols of unity in diversity and are committed to peace and the welfare of humanity. He also mentioned that India and Ethiopia are key partners of the Global South and have worked together on various international platforms.
Discussions between the two leaders focused on enhancing cooperation in areas like economy, innovation, technology, defense, healthcare, and capacity building. Prime Minister Modi also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for Ethiopia's support in India’s fight against terrorism.
Bilateral Trade with Jordan to Increase
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi visited Jordan with the aim of giving a new direction to India’s relations with West Asian countries. This visit marked the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Jordan in 37 years. During high-level talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan, discussions covered cooperation in combating terrorism, the Gaza crisis, regional peace, and economic partnerships.
The two countries set a target to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion in the next five years. Currently, India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at $2.8 billion in 2024. Following the meeting, five key agreements were signed in areas including clean energy, water management, culture, and digital innovation. Cooperation in renewable energy and nuclear energy was also discussed.
Upon his arrival in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Modi was warmly welcomed with a green carpet. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed personally received him at the airport. On the way to the hotel, he was shown the Science Museum and Friendship Park. During a coffee ceremony, Prime Minister Modi was introduced to Ethiopia’s traditional coffee culture.