Ethiopia and India on Thursday began implementing a visa waiver programme for holders of diplomatic passports, a move aimed at deepening cooperation following the recent elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
The agreement came into effect on January 15 after a signing ceremony at the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa, officials from both countries said.
Under the arrangement, diplomatic passport holders from the two countries will be allowed to travel without visas, easing official travel and facilitating closer institutional engagement.
The accord was signed by Ethiopia’s Director General for Middle East, Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dewano Kedir, and India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rai said the waiver reflected a “high level of mutual trust” between the two governments and demonstrated their intention to remove administrative barriers that slow official engagement.
The agreement, he said, would enable faster coordination and support the implementation of joint initiatives across a range of sectors.
“This step allows both sides to accelerate cooperation by simplifying official travel and promoting more frequent high-level interactions,” Rai said.
The implementation follows a state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ethiopia in December 2025, during which he and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed agreed to upgrade relations to a strategic partnership.
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That designation marked a significant step in bilateral ties, positioning Ethiopia among India’s key partners in Africa.
Kedir said the visa waiver would strengthen institutional collaboration and improve the efficiency of bilateral mechanisms established under the strategic partnership framework.
He added that Ethiopia viewed the agreement as a practical tool to support the execution of decisions taken during recent high-level talks, particularly by facilitating the movement of government officials and diplomats.
The Ethiopian official also pointed to long-standing ties between the two countries, noting cooperation in areas such as education, trade and cultural exchange.
He said the waiver was expected to contribute to stronger people-to-people links and help attract greater investment, as diplomatic engagement becomes more streamlined.
Officials from both sides said the move should pave the way for increased ministerial-level exchanges and expanded cooperation in areas including technology transfer, trade promotion and South-South cooperation.
They also encouraged greater use of trade missions and institutional dialogues to ensure that the objectives of the strategic partnership are translated into concrete outcomes.
Ethiopia and India have steadily expanded economic and political ties in recent years, with India emerging as a key investor in Ethiopia’s manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.
Both governments said the visa waiver was part of a broader effort to enhance connectivity and reinforce cooperation as they seek a stronger joint role on the global stage.
