Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’ by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, marking a significant milestone in the deepening strategic ties between the two nations. The award, Ethiopia's highest honour, was bestowed upon PM Modi during his visit to the capital, Addis Ababa, for his exceptional contribution to strengthening the India-Ethiopia partnership and his role as a global statesman.
The distinction is particularly noteworthy as PM Modi is the first global Head of State or Government to receive this prestigious Ethiopian award, which is the 28th top foreign State honour conferred upon him.
PM Modi's Message on Receiving the Honour
Following the ceremony, PM Modi took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his deep gratitude, dedicating the honour to the people of India and the enduring partnership between the two countries.
Grateful to the people and Government of Ethiopia as well as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for conferring upon me the ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’ last evening. To be honoured by one of the world’s most ancient and rich civilisations is a matter of immense pride. This honour… pic.twitter.com/MWrdGwVFcI
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2025
The Prime Minister emphasized that receiving the honour from Ethiopia, a nation with one of the world’s most ancient and rich civilizations, fills him with "immense pride." He humbly accepted the recognition on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India, acknowledging the generations of Indians—from ancient traders and soldiers to modern-day teachers and industrialists—who have nurtured the bilateral bond.
Elevating Ties to a Strategic Partnership
The conferment of the award follows crucial bilateral discussions between PM Modi and his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed Ali, who made a special gesture by personally receiving and driving PM Modi from the airport.
During their talks, the two leaders officially agreed to elevate India-Ethiopia bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. This elevation is aimed at providing "new energy, new speed, and new depth" to cooperation across key sectors, including:
- Trade and Investment
- Innovation and Technology
- Education and Capacity Building
- Defence and Security
- Health and Food Security
Both nations also reiterated their commitment to strengthening collaboration to address global challenges and support the interests of the Global South.
