In　Africa,　China　and　India　are　considered　to　be　following　a　donor–recipient　approach　and　are　explicitly　criticised　for　exploiting　the　continent’s　energy　resources.　This　study　focuses　on　the　presence　of　the　Asian　countries　in　terms　of　institutional　theory,　historical　connections,　instrumental　motivations　and　political　engagement　with　Africa　in　general,　and　with　Ethiopia　in　particular.　India　offers　non-pecuniary　value,　such　as　scholarship　and　technical　assistance,　whereas　China　focuses　on　a　wider　range　of　economic　aids　and　non-pecuniary　packages;　thus,　both　countries　are　well　positioned　in　Africa.　This　study　is　an　exercise　audit　of　the　impact　of　Chinese　and　Indian　economic　activities　on　Ethiopia’s　economic　growth　and　examines　the　period　from　1992　to　2016　from　historical　and　contemporary　perspectives.　This　study　also　includes　a　case　study　of　members　of　Ethiopian　society’s　attitudes　towards　the　presence　and　prospects　of　Chinese　and　Indian　investment　projects　and　its　perceptions　of　these　projects.　Although　some　long-term　developmental　impacts　remain　uncertain,　this　study　argues　that　the　presence　of　the　Asian　drivers　has　favoured　Ethiopia　in　many　investment　sectors　and　concludes　that　the　overall　impact　of　the　Asian　drivers　on　Ethiopia　is　beneficial.　To　collect　primary　data,　individual　and　group　interviews　and　discussions　were　conducted.　©　2019　SAGE　Publications.