India To Set Up First Foreign Defence Facility; Rajnath Singh To Inaugurate In Morocco

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s upcoming two-day trip to Morocco starts on September 22. It will focus on strengthening defence and strategic relations between the two nations.

Rajnath Singh is visiting at the invitation of Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National Defence, Abdeltif Loudiyi. His trip will mark the first time an Indian Defence Minister has officially visited the North African nation.

The visit’s key highlight will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new facility in Berrechid, which will manufacture the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8.

This will be India’s first defence production unit in Africa, a development the ministry described as a milestone that reflects the expanding global footprint of India’s defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

India Expands Defence Footprint Abroad

Singh is visiting at the invitation of Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National Defence, Abdeltif Loudiyi. His trip will mark the first time an Indian Defence Minister has officially visited the North African nation.

The visit’s key highlight will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new facility in Berrechid, which will manufacture the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8.

This will be India’s first defence production unit in Africa, a development the ministry described as a milestone that reflects the expanding global footprint of India’s defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Officials said Singh will hold bilateral discussions with Loudiyi on defence and strategic industrial cooperation.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, is to discuss industrial collaborations. In Rabat, Rajnath Singh will interact with the local Indian community.

India-Morocco to sign Defence MoU, which will boost military exchanges, training and industry ties and which will gradually strengthen Indian Navy ports.

India’s relations with Morocco have consistently strengthened since King Mohammed VI met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi in 2015.

The ministry noted that Singh’s visit will inject new energy into defence and strategic cooperation.

Just last month, India’s newest stealth frigate, INS Tamal, made a three-day port call at Casablanca.

The Defence Ministry said the visit underlined India’s commitment to stronger ties with Morocco and gave both navies an opportunity to exchange best practices and explore new avenues of cooperation.

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