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 India |  Ethiopia |
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Ethiopia–India relations have existed for almost two millennia. Moderndiplomatic relations betweenIndia andEthiopia were established at the level of legations in July 1948, after theindependence of India. The relationship was raised to the ambassadorial level in 1952.[1] India maintains anembassy inAddis Ababa and Ethiopia inNew Delhi. The two countries have enjoyed close and friendly relations with India supporting Ethiopian developmental efforts while Ethiopia has supported Indian interests such as its claim to a permanent seat on theUnited Nations Security Council.[2] India and Ethiopia share a common understanding on such issues as cross-border international terrorism, the need and direction for reform of the United Nations, and the importance of action on climate change.[1]
Trade and people-to-people contacts have existed between India and Ethiopia for almost two millennia, Hoard ofKushan period coins have been excavated fromDebre Damo, northern Ethiopia.[3] Beginning at the time of theAxumite Empire. Indians traded in silk, spices, gold and ivory with the Ethiopians in the 6th century. Portuguese assistance to the King of Ethiopia in the 16th century saw the arrival ofpeople from Goa in Ethiopia. British interventions in Ethiopia in 1868 to free European diplomats imprisoned byEmperor Tewodros II under GeneralRobert Napier and in 1941 that ended the Italian occupation both involved large contingents of Indian soldiers who fought as part of the British commanded forces.[4]
Ethiopia has also been home to a sizable Indian diaspora consisting of traders and artisans who settled down there in the latter half of the nineteenth century. DuringEmperor Haile Selassie's reign a large number of Indian teachers went to Ethiopia which has led to the development of significant goodwill towards India among the Ethiopians.[4] TheSiddi community on India's western coast are thought to be of Ethiopian descent.[5] The Ethiopian-bornMalik Ambar ruled the Ahmadnagar Sultanate in the Deccan region of India in the 17th century and is a figure of veneration to the Siddis of Gujarat.[6]
During theItalian invasion of Ethiopia,Jawaharlal Nehru made a stirring call for solidarity withAbyssinia, noting that "We in India can do nothing to help our brethren in distress in Ethiopia for we are also victims ofimperialism but we stand with them today in their sorrow as we hope to stand together when better days come".[5] UponIndia's independence in 1947, it sent a goodwill mission to Ethiopia and diplomatic relations were established the following year. In 1950, the countries formalised their diplomatic ties and Sardar Sant Singh was appointed India's first Ambassador to Ethiopia.[7] The two countries have since exchanged several visits at the level ofHeads of State with Emperor Haile Selassie,Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam and formerPrime MinisterMeles Zenawi paying state visits to India.PresidentsS. Radhakrishnan andV V Giri,Vice PresidentZakir Husain and formerPrime MinisterManmohan Singh have led Indianstate visits to Ethiopia.[4]
Ethiopia's ties with India were especially strong under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who was supportive of India seeing India's growth as beneficial to Ethiopia's own economic growth.[2][8] Ethiopia's former Prime MinisterHailemariam Desalegn and the country's first lady have both been educated in India.[2]The secondIndia-Africa Forum Summit was held at Addis Ababa in May 2011 which was attended by as many as 15 Heads of States of various African nations. This was also the first time India was hosting such an event abroad.[9]
India's Exports to Ethiopia were US$723.45 Million in 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Trade between the two countries amounted to $660 million in 2011-'12 and was expected to reach $1 billion by 2015.[10] Indian exports to Ethiopia consists of drugs andpharmaceuticals,steel,machinery, food items, plastic andlinoleum products,paper,textiles, chemicals, transport equipment and steel. India's imports from Ethiopia includeraw hides and skins,pulses,oil seeds,spices,leather andscrap metal.[11]
India is Ethiopia's second largest source ofForeign Direct Investments with investments amounting to $5 billion. Indian investments in Ethiopia are expected to be worth $10 billion by 2015 with India approving investments worth $4.78 billion in 2011.[12][13]
India and Ethiopia signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in 2007 and aDouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement in 2011 to promote mutual trade and investments.[14][15] At the Second India Africa Forum Summit, the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a $300 millionline of credit to help revive theEthiopia-Djibouti rail route.[8] This project however went to Chinese construction companies following delays on the Indian side in sanctioning the funds.[16] TheDuty Free Tariff Preference scheme that was announced at the summit allowing for imports from Least developed Countries into India has however had a positive impact on bilateral trade with the value of Ethiopian exports to India now reaching $120 million. Thebalance of trade however remains in India's favour.[7] India has also extended $710 million in lines of credit to help in rural electrification and the revival of the sugar industry in Ethiopia.[17]
India has agreed to cooperate with Ethiopia in the agricultural sector for the development of the meat anddairy sectors.[18] To build human resource capacity, India trains Ethiopian diplomats and trade negotiators under itsIndian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme.[8] TheIndian Army is involved in training and developing a manual for theEthiopian Army.[2] ThePan-African e-Network project that India has undertaken to link African nations with each other and to India was launched on a pilot basis first in Ethiopia in 2007.[19]
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