Facility will be the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa

Tribune News Service

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Casablanca in Morocco on a two-day visit, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the country. He was received at Mohammed V International Airport by the Head Wali of Military Command of Casablanca and Indian Ambassador to Morocco Sanjay Rana.

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. This facility will be the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa. The milestone reflects the growing global footprint of India’s defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with Loudiyi to strengthen defence, strategic and industry cooperation, and will also call on Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour to explore avenues for industrial collaboration.

Both sides are also expected to sign an MoU on cooperation in the field of defence. The MoU will provide an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training and industrial linkages. Indian Navy ships have been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years, and this agreement will further consolidate such ties.