India to Boost Solar, Agriculture, Mining Ties with Ethiopia

• PM Modi’s visit will cover investments, agriculture, cybersecurity, education, and more
• India plans solar initiatives in Ethiopia under the International Solar Alliance.
• The visit aims to strengthen India-Ethiopia relations, with support from the Indian diaspora

In advance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official trip to Ethiopia, India’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai, highlighted the following focal point areas that will be discussed: Investments, Agriculture, Mining, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and Cybersecurity.

The ambassador also indicated that the Prime Minister’s visit will lead to discussions between India and the Ethiopian government officials in the following sectors: Education, Health, Defence, and Agriculture.

He stated, “All these sectors (education, health, defence, agriculture, and digital technology) are on our agenda for discussion, and in addition, investments from India in Ethiopia, the mining sector, digital public infrastructure, and cybersecurity are the areas”.

“This visit is going to discuss the entire gamut of the relationship between both countries. During the visit, both leaders will also review regional and international issues”, Rai noted.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of Agriculture, stating that 80% of the population in Africa relies on this sector for their livelihoods. In addition, India is expecting to roll out a number of projects in Ethiopia as part of this initiative creating opportunities for job creation and poverty alleviation through Solar Energy Technology.

Some of these projects are related to solar rooftops (creating jobs for Ethiopian citizens in solar panel assembly), Solar Connectivity (connecting solar energy users to one another), Off grid solutions (providing energy access for people living in rural areas), Solar Pumps (Two types of Solar Pumping Systems).

Also Read: Cabinet Clears Reforms: 100% FDI in Insurance, Atomic Push

Anil Kumar Rai said, “Agriculture is a very important area because 80 per cent of Ethiopians depend on agriculture for their livelihood. We are going to discuss wide-ranging areas, and I doubt that there is anything which has been left out”.

“Through the International Solar Alliance, a large number of projects are proposed to be launched in Ethiopia and this ranges from solar rooftops to regional connectivity through solar energy, off-grid connectivity, and solar pumps so that the lives of those people who are not part of the national grid can be provided access to energy and access to energy is also one of the very important elements and a very important anti-poverty measure”, he added.

By means of a collaborative effort between India and France, the International Solar Alliance has been established to promote solar energy deployment, as well as providing solutions to combat climate change. The alliance currently has approximately over 100 countries as members and its goal is to mobilize USD 1 trillion worth of solar investment by the year 2030.

“A large number of activities, including recitation of songs and poems, are planned. On the evening of the 16th, the Indian diaspora will present a memorable welcome for the Prime Minister”, the ambassador said.

The Prime Minister's visit, at the request of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia, will also emphasise building political ties between both nations and will be used to address regional and global challenges. The Ethiopian Indian population (approximately 2500) will hold a special welcome event for the PM.

In a statement, the MEA stated, “As partners in the Global South, the visit will be a reiteration of the shared commitment of the two nations to advance close ties of friendship and bilateral cooperation”.