Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday drew a cultural parallel between India and Ethiopia, saying he felt “very much at home” in the African nation as both Ethiopia and his home state Gujarat are known as the land of lions.

Beginning his address at a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, PM Modi said, “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.” He described Ethiopia as a nation of ancient wisdom and modern aspirations and conveyed greetings of friendship on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Ethiopia’s civilisational heritage, democratic journey, and the spirit of Medemer (synergy), drawing parallels with India’s own blend of tradition and modernity. Referring to historic links, he recalled ancient maritime trade ties between ports such as Adulis and Dholera and highlighted India’s role in Ethiopia’s liberation struggle in 1941.

“India and Ethiopia share warmth in climate, as well as in spirit. Nearly two thousand years ago, our ancestors built connections across great waters. Across the Indian Ocean, merchants sailed with spices, cotton, coffee, and gold. But they traded more than goods. They exchanged ideas, stories, and ways of life. Ports like Adulis and Dholera were not just trade centres. They were bridges between civilisations,” he said.

“In modern times, our relationship entered a new era. Indian soldiers fought alongside Ethiopians for the liberation of Ethiopia in 1941. Our formal diplomatic relations began soon after India became independent,” he added.

The Prime Minister conveyed India’s commitment to enhance and build a stronger India-Ethiopia partnership. In this regard, he recalled the contribution of Indian teachers and Indian businesses to Ethiopia’s growth and prosperity. He shared India’s development experiences, including in the fields of digital public infrastructure, food processing, and innovation, and conveyed India’s readiness to continue development support to Ethiopia in keeping with the latter’s priorities. Conveying India’s commitment to serve humanity, as embodied in the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), he said it was a privilege for India to supply Ethiopia with vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister emphasised that India and Ethiopia, as nations of the Global South, must stand together to give a greater voice to developing countries. He thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in strengthening the global fight against terrorism.

Highlighting the pivotal role of Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union, in realising the dreams of African unity, the Prime Minister stated that India was honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during its presidency. He added that during the 11 years of his government, India-Africa connections have grown manifold, with the two sides exchanging over 100 visits at the level of Heads of State and Government. He reflected on India’s deep commitment to Africa’s development and underscored his proposal made at the Johannesburg G20 Summit to launch the “Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative” to train one million trainers across the continent.

Concluding his address, PM Modi said, “As I conclude, I give you my word, that we will walk together as equals. We will build together as partners. And we will succeed together as friends.” DeshGujarat