Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Indian Defence Plant in Morocco

India : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has embarked on a historic two-day visit to Morocco from September 22–23, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the North African nation. The visit, at the invitation of Morocco’s Minister Delegate of National Defence Abdeltif Loudiyi, underlines the growing momentum in bilateral ties and sets the stage for a new chapter in India’s defence diplomacy.

A highlight of the visit is the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing facility at Berrechid. The plant is dedicated to producing the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8, a combat vehicle jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems and DRDO. This facility is the first Indian defence production establishment on African soil, symbolising a major milestone within the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework. The project represents India’s transformation from being primarily a defence buyer to becoming a global supplier and industrial collaborator.

The Berrechid facility is expected to produce around 150 WhAP vehicles for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces over the next three years. Importantly, the initiative will generate local employment with nearly 90 direct jobs and about 250 indirect jobs, while ensuring local value-addition starting at 35%, with a roadmap to increase it to 50%. Such collaboration demonstrates India’s ability to share not just platforms but also industrial capacity, making Morocco a critical partner in Africa’s defence landscape.

During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold extensive talks with Abdeltif Loudiyi to advance cooperation in military exchanges, training, joint initiatives in defence technology, and structured industrial collaboration. Both sides are set to formalise these engagements through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation. This will provide an official framework for enhanced defence ties, enabling opportunities for greater engagement between the two armed forces and defence industries.

Beyond defence, the Indian Defence Minister will meet Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to explore broader industrial linkages in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. In addition, he will interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Rabat, reflecting the importance India places on people-to-people connections as part of its strategic outreach.

Maritime ties also feature prominently. Indian Navy ships have made regular port calls at Casablanca, and with the signing of the MoU, these linkages are expected to expand to joint drills, port visits, and broader naval cooperation, thereby reinforcing the maritime dimension of India-Morocco relations.

Strategically, the visit builds on the momentum generated since King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened bilateral engagement in 2015. Morocco, with its pivotal location in North Africa, provides India with an anchor for expanding its influence across the African defence landscape.

The inauguration of a physical defence manufacturing presence in Morocco stands as a symbolic leap in India’s global defence journey. It showcases the strength of the private sector-led export model, reinforces India’s image as a reliable partner in global security frameworks, and underlines the country’s ambition to emerge as a major player in international defence supply chains.