Addis Ababa, Dec 17 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended an invitation to his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed Ali, to grace the upcoming AI Impact Summit and the BRICS Summit, both set to take place in India in 2026, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.

During a media briefing regarding the Prime Minister's visit to Ethiopia, MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Sudhakar Dalela disclosed that India will take over the chairmanship of the BRICS group for one year starting January 1, 2026.

Dalela mentioned that Prime Minister Modi is slated to address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament later on Wednesday, marking a key moment in the parliamentary relations between the two nations.

Throughout the day, the Prime Minister is also expected to engage with the Speaker of the Ethiopian Parliament and various senior leaders of the country.

As part of his official duties, Prime Minister Modi will tour the Adwa Museum and pay respects at the Adwa Victory Memorial, highlighting the historical and cultural bonds between India and Ethiopia.

According to the MEA, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday and received a warm and enthusiastic reception.

In a personal gesture that reflects the close relationship between the two leaders, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally drove Prime Minister Modi to the National Science Museum and Friendship Park in Addis Ababa.

Later that day, Prime Minister Modi was honored with a ceremonial welcome at the National Palace, where he reviewed the Guard of Honour.

The two leaders subsequently engaged in extensive bilateral talks covering a variety of topics, including political collaboration, economic ties, and strategic partnerships.

The MEA noted that Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy for Ethiopia's steadfast support to India in combatting terrorism in all its forms.

The leaders also oversaw the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding across critical cooperation sectors.

These agreements encompass customs collaboration, training for United Nations peacekeeping missions, and the establishment of a data center at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as noted by Dalela.

Enhancements in the education sector were also highlighted with a decision to double the scholarship offerings for Ethiopian students through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations program.

India will additionally provide specialized short-term courses in Artificial Intelligence under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation initiative.

"Our education collaboration with Ethiopia is robust. We provide scholarships for numerous Ethiopian students pursuing higher education, and there is significant interest in studying in India. The Prime Minister has announced a doubling of scholarship slots for Ethiopian students," Dalela stated.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also published the official outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit, emphasizing the elevation of India-Ethiopia relations to a Strategic Partnership as a major achievement.

Key agreements include an accord on customs cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding for establishing a data center at Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an implementing arrangement to bolster training for United Nations peacekeeping operations.

India and Ethiopia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework, indicating closer economic and financial coordination between the two nations.

In the healthcare sector, India has committed to enhancing capacity at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Addis Ababa, focusing particularly on improving maternal and neonatal healthcare services.

Prime Minister Modi's arrival in Ethiopia on Tuesday was met with a rousing reception, marking a significant phase of his official international visit.

This visit, which is taking place at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, underscores the growing strategic, economic, and diplomatic importance of India-Ethiopia relations.

During this visit, Prime Minister Modi was also awarded Ethiopia's highest civilian honor, the 'Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia', to which he expressed his profound gratitude to the Ethiopian government and its people.