Addis Ababa, December 17, 2025: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali during a special ceremony at the Addis International Convention Centre.
This prestigious award recognises PM Modi’s exceptional contributions to strengthening bilateral ties between India and Ethiopia, as well as his visionary leadership on the global stage. Modi becomes the first head of state or government to receive this distinction, with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates being the previous recipient in June 2025.
The honour marks the 28th foreign state award bestowed upon PM Modi, underscoring India’s rising global influence.
This marks PM Modi’s first bilateral visit to Ethiopia, arriving in Addis Ababa on Tuesday after concluding his trip to Jordan. In a rare gesture of warmth, PM Abiy Ahmed personally received Modi at the airport and drove him to his hotel. The two leaders also made an unscheduled visit to Addis Ababa’s Science Museum and Friendship Park, where they discussed cooperation in various sectors.
In his acceptance speech, PM Modi expressed profound gratitude, stating: “To be honoured by one of the world’s most ancient and prosperous civilisations is a matter of great pride. I accept this with deep humility on behalf of 140 crore Indians.”
He dedicated the award to the people of India and those from both nations who have nurtured ties across generations. Modi praised PM Abiy Ahmed’s leadership in promoting national unity, sustainable development, and inclusive progress. He also highlighted the longstanding contributions of Indian teachers to Ethiopia’s development over more than a century, calling knowledge the foundation of nation-building.
During the visit, India and Ethiopia elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, paving the way for deeper cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and defence. The leaders held delegation-level talks covering bilateral and regional issues.
PM Modi described the trip as the beginning of a new chapter in India-Ethiopia friendship, rooted in shared civilisational links and mutual respect.
This development highlights the growing strategic importance of India-Africa relations, with Ethiopia serving as a key partner in the Global South and host to the African Union headquarters.
