ISLAMABAD (MNN); The leading think tanks of Ethiopia and Pakistan on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize intellectual and policy collaboration aimed at promoting innovation and economic growth in both countries.
The MoU was signed virtually by H.E. Jafar Bedru Geletu, Executive Director of the Institution of Foreign Affairs Ethiopia, and H.E. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad.
The signing ceremony was witnessed in Islamabad by Ethiopia’s Ambassador-designate to Pakistan, H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba, at ISSI, while Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Atif Sharif, attended the event from the IFA headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Under the agreement, both institutions will establish a structured framework for cooperation in diplomatic training, professional capacity building, research and policy analysis. The collaboration will include exchange of delegations, joint conferences, co-publications and collaborative research projects.
Congratulating both sides on the milestone, the Executive Director of IFA said Ethiopia and Pakistan share a long-standing relationship rooted in mutual respect, South-South cooperation and a common vision for global stability and prosperity.
He said the partnership would combine IFA’s expertise on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea with ISSI’s regional research strengths to develop joint perspectives on maritime security, trade routes, regional stability and counter-terrorism, while offering policy recommendations in line with contemporary challenges.
ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood described Ethiopia as a gateway to Africa and emphasized that strong academic linkages are essential to promote joint research, exchanges and policy dialogue for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Ambassador-designate Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba highlighted the positive momentum in bilateral relations and urged both think tanks to work closely to fully utilize each other’s strengths. He stressed the need to further strengthen political and economic cooperation as key pillars of Pakistan-Ethiopia relations.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Atif Sharif noted steady growth in ties between the two countries, citing the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, commencement of Ethiopian Airlines operations in Karachi, frequent exchange of delegations across sectors, and the successful Pakistan Single Country Exhibition held in Addis Ababa in October 2025.
