Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22-23, at the invitation of Minister Delegate of National Defence of Morocco, Abdeltif Loudiyi. This will be the first-ever visit of a Rajnath Singh to the North African nation, underscoring the growing strategic convergence between India and Morocco.
A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8 at Berrechid. The plant is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing facility in Africa and marks a milestone that reflects the global expansion of India’s defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
During his stay, the Defence Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Loudiyi to strengthen defence, strategic, and industry cooperation. He will also call on Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to explore avenues for industrial collaboration. Singh will also interact with the vibrant Indian community in Rabat.
Both nations are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence. The MoU will establish an institutional framework to expand bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages. The Indian Navy has been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years, and the agreement will further consolidate these ties.
India-Morocco relations have gained momentum since Moroccan King Mohammed VI’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 in India.
– Ends