PM Modi Heads to Oman After Ethiopia Visit, Wraps Up Three-Nation Tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday departed for Oman from Ethiopia, marking the final leg of his four-day, three-nation visit.

Modi is visiting Oman at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. During the visit, the two leaders will hold talks aimed at further strengthening the India–Oman Strategic Partnership, with a focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy and other key sectors.

The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Oman and follows Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s state visit to India in December 2023. Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to address a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Oman. This will be his second visit to the Gulf nation.

“This visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to comprehensively review the bilateral partnership, including cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence, security, technology, agriculture and culture, as well as to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said earlier.

As Modi departed Addis Ababa for Muscat, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali personally drove him to the airport and bid him farewell, underlining the warmth of ties between the two countries.

During his maiden visit to Ethiopia, India and Ethiopia elevated their long-standing relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership’. Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, following which the two leaders witnessed the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding across multiple sectors. Modi also addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament.

In recognition of his contributions to bilateral relations, Prime Minister Modi was conferred Ethiopia’s highest civilian award — The Great Honour of the Nishan of Ethiopia, becoming the first global head of state to receive the honour. His address to the Ethiopian Parliament reportedly drew the longest standing ovation in its history, with lawmakers applauding him more than 50 times.

In a detailed press statement, the MEA said Prime Minister Modi began his address by conveying greetings of friendship and goodwill from the people of India to Ethiopian lawmakers. He described it as a privilege to address the Parliament and, through it, reach out to the people of Ethiopia, including farmers, entrepreneurs, women and youth.

Expressing gratitude for the honour conferred upon him, Modi welcomed the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. Recalling deep civilisational links, he said both nations blend ancient wisdom with modern ambition, noting that India’s national song “Vande Mataram” and Ethiopia’s national anthem both refer to the land as mother.

He paid tribute to Indian soldiers who fought alongside Ethiopians during the liberation struggle of 1941 and said it was an honour to visit the Adwa Victory Monument.

Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to development cooperation with Ethiopia, highlighting India’s experience in digital public infrastructure, food processing and innovation. He also recalled India’s supply of vaccines to Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic, guided by the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family.

Stressing the importance of Global South cooperation, Modi said India and Ethiopia must work together to amplify the voice of developing nations. He thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in the global fight against terrorism and highlighted Addis Ababa’s role as the headquarters of the African Union.

Noting that India had welcomed the African union as a permanent member of the G20 during its presidency, Modi said India–Africa relations have deepened significantly over the past 11 years, with more than 100 high-level exchanges. He also recalled his proposal at the Johannesburg G20 Summit to launch the Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative to train one million trainers across the continent.