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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he felt a deep sense of familiarity while visiting Ethiopia. He said that both the African nation and his home state of Gujarat are home to lions. He made the remark while addressing a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, which marked the 18th parliament worldwide that he has addressed.
“It is a moment of great privilege to stand before you today. It is wonderful to be here in Ethiopia, the land of lions. I feel very much at home because my home state, Gujarat in India, is also home to lions,” PM Modi said.
During his address, the prime minister praised Ethiopia’s democratic journey and conveyed India’s goodwill and friendship to the Ethiopian people, emphasising the shared values between the two nations.
PM Modi highlighted the respect India holds for Ethiopia’s Parliament and democratic institutions, underlining the historical and cultural bonds between the two countries.
“I come to you with big respect for your Parliament, for your people and your democratic journey...On behalf of 1.4 billion people of India, I bring greetings of friendship, goodwill and brotherhood,” PM Modi said.
He also drew a parallel between the national symbols of the two countries, saying both inspire pride in the motherland and a sense of responsibility towards preserving heritage and culture.
“India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and Ethiopia’s national anthem, both refer to our land as the Mother. They inspire us to take pride in the heritage, culture, beauty and protect the motherland,” he added.
The Prime Minister also spoke about receiving Ethiopia’s highest civilian award, describing the honour as one meant for the people of India rather than for him personally.
“Yesterday, I was also honoured to receive ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’. I accept this award with folded hands and humility on behalf of the people of India,” he said.
PM Modi underlined the strong economic engagement between the two countries, pointing out that Indian firms are among the leading foreign investors in Ethiopia. He said cooperation between two developing nations allows them to learn from each other’s experiences and strengths.
“Indian companies are among the largest investors in Ethiopia. They have invested more than 5 billion dollars across diverse sectors and generated more than 75000 jobs. We have decided to elevate India-Ethiopia bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the decision to upgrade bilateral ties reflects the growing depth of cooperation and shared ambitions between India and Ethiopia across political, economic and cultural spheres.
