New Delhi/Johannesburg, Nov 22 (NationPress) On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg. Modi detailed their meeting in a post on X, emphasizing the enduring partnership between India and Ethiopia and their commitment to enhancing collaboration in crucial sectors.

"I met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. India and Ethiopia enjoy a partnership steeped in history and fortified by developmental cooperation. We are committed to advancing our relations in areas such as technology, skills development, and more," PM Modi stated.

While specifics of their discussion remain scarce, the Prime Minister's comments highlight the ongoing engagement between India and Ethiopia, one of Africa's prominent economies and a long-term ally in enhancing trade, capacity-building, and development initiatives.

The diplomatic relationship between India and Ethiopia spans over seventy years. Ethiopia stands as one of the principal beneficiaries of Indian Lines of Credit in Africa, supporting projects in power transmission, rural electrification, railways, and agricultural infrastructure. Additionally, Indian enterprises are actively investing in Ethiopia across various sectors, including manufacturing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and IT.

Regular interactions occur through the framework of the India-Africa Forum Summit, bilateral joint commissions, and development partnership initiatives. Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme, India has extended comprehensive training to Ethiopian professionals in fields such as IT, governance, public administration, healthcare, and vocational skills.

As highlighted by the Prime Minister's post on X, technology collaboration and skills development have been essential components of their bilateral cooperation. India has backed digital capacity-building initiatives in Ethiopia, including establishing IT training centers and institutions related to science and engineering.

Saturday’s engagement comes as India intensifies its outreach to African partners at multilateral forums. Ethiopia's attendance at the Summit is significant, especially following the African Union's recent designation as a permanent member of the G20 during India's presidency, a move both nations view as a step towards greater representation of the Global South in international economic governance.

Prime Minister Modi's brief meeting with Abiy Ahmed Ali is part of a series of high-level discussions he has conducted with global leaders during the Summit, which is addressing topics such as sustainable development, global economic stability, digital collaboration, and multilateral reforms.