Rajnath Singh to visit Morocco; first-ever Indian Defence Manufacturing Plant in Africa to be inaugurated

New Delhi, Sept 20: New Delhi, September 20: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22–23, at the invitation of the country’s Minister Delegate of National Defence, Abdeltif Loudiyi.

This will be the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the North African nation, reflecting the growing strategic convergence between the two countries. A major highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new facility at Berrechid, which will manufacture the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8.

The plant is the first Indian defence manufacturing unit in Africa and marks a significant milestone for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, showcasing India’s expanding defence footprint overseas.

During his visit, Mr. Singh will hold bilateral talks with Mr. Loudiyi to deepen defence and strategic cooperation. He is also scheduled to meet Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to discuss industrial collaboration. In addition, the Defence Minister will interact with members of the Indian community in Rabat.

India and Morocco are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation, which will establish a framework for exchanges, training programmes and industrial linkages.

The agreement is likely to strengthen existing naval ties, as Indian warships have been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years.

Relations between New Delhi and Rabat have strengthened since Moroccan King Mohammed VI met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. The upcoming visit is expected to inject new momentum into the partnership, particularly in defence and strategic sectors.