Bilateral Innovation Ties Strengthened as ISSI and IFA Ink MoU
Aamer Rafique:
ISLAMABAD — The premier think tanks of Ethiopia and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to institutionalize intellectual and policy cooperation, aiming to drive innovation and growth in both countries.
The MoU was virtually signed by H.E. Jafar Bedru Geletu, Executive Director of the Institution of Foreign Affairs (IFA) Ethiopia, and H.E. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba, Ambassador-designate of Ethiopia to Pakistan, witnessed the ceremony at ISSI in Islamabad, while his counterpart, Ambassador Atif Sharif Mian, attended from the IFA headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in diplomatic training, professional development, research, and analysis through exchange of delegations, conferences, co-publications, and joint research projects.
Congratulating both sides on this milestone, H.E. Jafar Bedru highlighted the long-standing ties between Ethiopia and Pakistan, grounded in mutual respect, South-South solidarity, and shared aspirations for stability and prosperity.
“By combining IFA’s knowledge of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea with ISSI’s regional research strengths, we are building a platform that can align views on maritime security and trade routes, craft joint approaches to stability and counter-terrorism, and deliver policy recommendations reflecting today’s realities,” he said.
ISSI Chairman Khalid Mahmood emphasized Ethiopia’s role as a gateway to Africa and the importance of fostering academic linkages to promote joint research, delegations’ exchange, and policy dialogues benefiting both nations.
Ambassador-designate Oumer Hussein noted the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and urged the think tanks to actively collaborate, highlighting the need to reinforce political and economic ties.
Pakistan’s Ambassador in Ethiopia, H.E. Atif Sharif, underscored recent developments, including the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, Ethiopian Airlines’ operations in Karachi, sectoral delegation exchanges, and the Pakistan Single Country Exhibition held in Addis Ababa in October 2025.
