President Ram Nath Kovind of India pays a state visit to Ethiopia

Tigrai Online, Oct. 5, 2017

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Ethiopia's capital yesterday October 4, 2017. President Ram Nath Kovind is on an official state visit to Ethiopia.

President Kovind, who arrived in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa from Djibouti, was received by his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome at the Bole international airport.

President Kovind's visit is the first by an Indian president to Ethiopia in 45 years after President VV Giri's trip in 1972.

The leaders of Ethiopia and India are expected to discuss wide range of bilateral relations between the two countries.

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India's bilateral trade with Ethiopia is quite significant in 2016 the trade amounted about USD 1 billion. With an approved investment of USD 4 billion India is one of the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia. Indian foreign direct investment has reached about 5 billion dollars and there is growing interest for more.

On Thursday Ethiopia and India have signed multiple agreements in trade, media, communications and other economic related agreements. 

Ethiopia and India diplomatic relationship background

• People of India and people from Axumite Kingdom have been trading since 6^th century
• India and Ethiopia established first diplomatic relationship in 1948
• The last Indian president to visit Ethiopia before now was President VV Giri in 1972.