Addis Ababa, Dec 17 (NationPress) India's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar, stated on Wednesday that the future trajectory of the relationship between India and Ethiopia is set to soar. He emphasized that advancing the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership exemplifies the proactive stance of the leadership from both nations to turn visionary ideas into real outcomes.

In a recent interview with IANS, Ambassador Kumar remarked that the decision to elevate the partnership to a strategic level indicates a more dynamic and closer relationship. He stated, “The trajectory of our relationship will be high. By deciding to elevate this to a strategic partnership, we are committing to work more closely, with confidence, and to produce tangible outcomes. This elevation reflects the leadership's direction aimed at translating key ideas into real-world results, which will include political consultations, discussions on international matters, and economic co-production. Moreover, the connection between our peoples and the diaspora will play a crucial role in this strategic alliance.”

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a two-day State Visit to Ethiopia where he and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali engaged in extensive bilateral discussions covering a variety of topics, including political cooperation, economic engagement, and the strategic partnership. The leaders also oversaw the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in key cooperative sectors.

Kumar highlighted that the educational and skill development collaboration between India and Ethiopia is well recognized, noting that over 2000 Ethiopian students are currently pursuing their graduation or PhD studies in India. He added, “This week, we announced a doubling of short-term scholarships for undergraduate courses, further enhancing opportunities for Ethiopian students to pursue advanced degrees in India. Our focus on capacity building aims to address critical gaps, and in due time, we will develop courses that range from one month to two weeks, specifically designed to bridge these gaps across various sectors, including the knowledge-based economy.”

When asked about PM Modi receiving Ethiopia's highest honor, Kumar stated, “This is a historic moment, as Ethiopia has conferred its highest national award on a foreign head of state for the first time. PM Modi is the inaugural recipient of this award, symbolizing the trust and expectations Ethiopia has in our leadership. This award represents not just our friendship but also energizes our commitment to translate this relationship into tangible results in the near future.”

PM Modi was awarded Ethiopia’s highest civilian honor, the ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia', during a special ceremony at the Addis International Convention Centre, acknowledging his remarkable contributions towards fortifying India-Ethiopia relations and his global leadership.

Kumar further remarked, “By elevating our partnership to a strategic level, our relationship will become increasingly dynamic and closely knit. Our diplomatic efforts will encompass political consultations at both bilateral and international levels, as well as joint initiatives to reform multilateral institutions. Economically, our cooperation will span diverse sectors where both nations share complementary interests, including agriculture, irrigation, fertilizer production, sustainability, education, healthcare, particularly in pharmaceuticals, defense collaboration, and emerging fields like technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.”