Pakistan and Ethiopia agreed in Islamabad to deepen educational cooperation, focusing on technical training, higher education linkages, and technology transfer through a proposed memorandum of understanding and institutional scholarships.
Islamabad Meeting Advances Bilateral Education Framework
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui received Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba, for a courtesy call at the ministry in Islamabad. The discussions centered on establishing a structured framework for educational cooperation spanning higher education, technical and vocational training, and STEAM education.
Bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1973. The Ethiopian Embassy opened in Islamabad in 2022.
Ambassador Dr. Oumer noted the growing ties across multiple sectors and emphasized that educational cooperation is vital to bringing the two nations closer and advance shared progress in the Global South. Federal Minister Siddiqui appreciated Ethiopia’s economic development and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations with Africa.
Draft Memorandum of Understanding and Institutional Linkages
A draft memorandum of understanding regarding education cooperation was shared with the Ethiopian side through diplomatic channels in December 2025. The Federal Minister welcomed an update from the Ethiopian delegation concerning the status of the text and expressed readiness to review any observations from Addis Ababa.
Both sides proposed that focal persons engage to resolve remaining issues so the two governments can proceed with finalization and signing. Higher education cooperation discussions highlighted the potential for joint seminars, workshops, guest lectures, visiting scholars, and the sharing of educational resources.
COMSATS University Islamabad offered 20 tuition-free scholarships to Ethiopian students during Ambassador Oba’s visit to the university earlier in the week. CUI Rector Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar and the Ambassador also discussed faculty exchanges, knowledge sharing, and academic links with Addis Ababa University and other higher education institutions.
Ethiopia Focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Coding Skills
The talks emphasized technical and vocational education and training. Officials noted that sharing labor-market trends helps align training programs with employment opportunities.
Ambassador Oba emphasized Ethiopia’s focus on skills development for its young population, specifically citing modern fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics. He highlighted the progress of the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders initiative, which was launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to expand the country’s skilled workforce.