PM Modi Invites Ethiopian PM To AI Impact Summit, BRICS Meet In India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to attend the next AI Impact Summit, scheduled to be held in India in February next year, and the BRICS Summit that India plans to host in 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

Briefing the media on the Prime Minister's visit to Ethiopia, MEA Secretary (ER) Sudhakar Dalela said India will assume the chairship of the BRICS grouping for a one-year term starting January 1, 2026.

Dalela said Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament later on Wednesday. During the day, he will also meet the Speaker of Parliament and other senior Ethiopian leaders. As part of his engagements, the Prime Minister will visit the Adwa Museum and pay tribute at the Adwa Victory Memorial.

According to the MEA, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday and received a warm welcome. In a special gesture, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally drove Prime Minister Modi to the National Science Museum and Friendship Park in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Modi was later accorded a ceremonial welcome at the National Palace, where he inspected the Guard of Honour. The two leaders then held detailed bilateral talks covering political, economic and strategic cooperation.

The MEA said Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Abiy for Ethiopia's strong support to India in the fight against terrorism "in all its manifestations."

Both leaders witnessed the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding across key sectors. These include agreements on customs cooperation, training for United Nations peacekeeping missions, and the establishment of a data centre at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dalela said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the MEA released the official outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit, highlighting the elevation of India-Ethiopia relations to a Strategic Partnership as a major milestone.

Key agreements announced during the visit included an accord on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, an MoU to establish a data centre at Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an implementing arrangement for cooperation in training for United Nations peacekeeping operations.

India and Ethiopia also signed an MoU on debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework, reflecting closer coordination on economic and financial issues. Educational cooperation was strengthened with a decision to double scholarships for Ethiopian students under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations programme and to offer specialised short-term courses in Artificial Intelligence under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation initiative.

In the healthcare sector, India committed to supporting capacity augmentation at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Addis Ababa, with a focus on maternal and neonatal care.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude after being conferred Ethiopia's highest civilian honour, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, calling it a matter of immense pride and a recognition of the strong and historic ties between the two countries. Thanking the people and government of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, he said the honour belonged to the many Indians who have contributed over the years to strengthening bilateral relations. He added that being honoured by one of the world's most ancient civilisations was deeply meaningful.

Ethiopia conferred the award on Tuesday, making Prime Minister Modi the first global Head of State or Government to receive the honour. This recognition marks the 28th top foreign state award bestowed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.