Ethiopia and Pakistan sign MoU to strengthen think tank cooperation for innovation and growth
Ethiopia and Pakistan have taken a significant step toward deepening bilateral cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their premier think tanks to promote innovation, policy coordination, and sustainable growth in both countries.
The MoU was signed virtually between 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). The agreement aims to institutionalize intellectual and policy collaboration between the two institutions.
The signing ceremony was witnessed in Islamabad by H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba, Ambassador-designate of Ethiopia to Pakistan, at the ISSI headquarters, while H.E. Ambassador Atif Sharif Mian, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, joined from the IFA headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Under the MoU, both institutions will establish a structured framework for cooperation in key areas including diplomatic training, professional development, research, and policy analysis. The collaboration will be carried out through exchanges of delegations, joint conferences, co-publications, and collaborative research initiatives.
Congratulating both sides on what he termed a milestone in bilateral relations, Executive Director IFA Jafar Bedru said Ethiopia and Pakistan share a long history rooted in mutual respect, South-South cooperation, and a common vision for global stability and prosperity. He noted that combining IFA’s expertise on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region with ISSI’s regional research strengths would enable both sides to align views on maritime security, trade routes, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.
Speaking on the occasion, ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood described Ethiopia as a gateway to Africa and emphasized the importance of building strong academic and research linkages. He said enhanced cooperation between the two think tanks would promote meaningful policy dialogue, joint research, and knowledge exchange for the benefit of both nations.
Ambassador-designate Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba highlighted the positive momentum in Ethiopia–Pakistan relations and urged both institutions to actively collaborate by utilizing each other’s strengths. He stressed the need to reinforce political and economic cooperation as key pillars of the bilateral relationship.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Atif Sharif Mian, also underscored the growing ties between the two countries. He cited recent developments including the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, the launch of Ethiopian Airlines operations in Karachi, increased sectoral exchanges, and the successful Pakistan Single Country Exhibition held in Addis Ababa in October 2025.