| Issues for comparison | China | India |
| Ownership/Nature | Ethiopian priorities, demand driven | Ethiopian priorities, demand driven |
| Conditionalities | Minimal-One China policy and no governance strings attached | No governance strings attached |
| Tying | China ties its aid to using Chinese companies and labour, procurement of materials from China | Procurement of materials from India and Consultants |
| Sectors focused (the top three) | Energy generation and supply followed by transport and storage, followed by Industry. | Sugar Industry followed by Transport and energy generation and supply |
| Projects given by both countries | In addition to the above three, tariff exemptions, other types of training, scholarships, and technical assistance | In addition to the above three, tariff exemptions, other types of training, scholarships, and technical assistance |
| Unique features to each donor | Debt relief and China ties its aid using Chinese companies and labour, Preference for grandiose and prestigious projects, Cooperates through different channels like part to party relations | - |
| Neglected area/s | Budgetary support, programme aid | Budgetary support, programme aid |