Islamabad, 9 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Ethiopia and Pakistan have agreed to enhance cooperation in the education sector to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The agreement was discussed during a meeting between Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Oumer H. Oba, and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in Islamabad on Thursday. Both sides explored key areas of collaboration, including institutional linkages, higher education, technical and vocational training, student exchanges, and research and development. Ambassador Dr. Oumer emphasized the importance of educational cooperation in bringing the two nations closer and promoting shared progress across the Global South. Highlighting Ethiopia’s young population, he said the country was prioritizing skills development in modern fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics. He also highlighted the success of the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders initiative, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, in equipping young people with digital skills and expanding the country’s skilled workforce. Federal Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui appreciated Ethiopia’s economic development and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations with African countries, particularly Ethiopia. He assured the Ethiopian ambassador of Pakistan’s full support for expanding cooperation in higher education, technical and vocational training, technology, and innovation.