Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday was conferred with Ethiopia’s highest award, ‘The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’, by his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali.
The award was conferred upon Prime Minister Modi in a special ceremony hosted at the Addis International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Modi was conferred with the award for his exceptional contribution towards strengthening India-Ethiopia partnership and for his visionary leadership as a global statesman, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement in New Delhi.
PM Modi also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Abiy and the people of Ethiopia for this honour.
Speaking after receiving the award, PM Modi said it was a matter of pride to be honoured by “a very ancient and prosperous civilisation”. He said he accepted the award on behalf of all Indians and described it as a recognition of the many Indians who have contributed to strengthening India–Ethiopia ties.
PM Modi also said, “On this occasion, I also express heartfelt gratitude to my friend PM Abiy Ahmed Ali. Last month, when we met during the G20 Summit in South Africa, with great love and right, you had urged me to visit Ethiopia. How could I have turned down this invitation from my friend, my brother? So, at the first chance, I decided to come to Ethiopia.”
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Prime Minister Modi is the first global head of state/head of government to receive this award.
The conferment of the award marks a milestone in the close partnership between India and Ethiopia and in furthering the positive agenda of the Global South.
