9OCTOBER 2025INDIA EXPANDS DEFENSE FOOTPRINT IN MOROCCO WITH NEW EMBASSY WINGINDIA BOOSTS DEFENCE WITH TATA'S ARMOURED PLANT IN MOROCCODefense Minister Rajnath Singh announced the establishment of a new Defense Wing at the Indian Embassy in Rabat, which is an important milestone in furthering defense relations between India and Morocco. This development comes as both countries explore deeper areas of cooperation in relation to security and defense industries.During his meeting with Moroccan Defense Minister Abdeltif Loudiyi, Singh signed a Memorandum of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be the first to visit Tata Advanced Systems' manufacturing unit in Morocco, which will be the company's first manufacuring facility in Morocco, marking a milestone for India as it moves up the global defence manufacturing value chain.The Berrechid plant would be the Indian manufacturing unit that produces the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), and it will be the first Indian defence manufacturing facility on the African continent.Understanding (MoU) for defense cooperation, providing an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation. The MoU covers potential partnerships in the defense industry, joint military exercises, training programs, and capacity building.Both ministers also discussed a roadmap for enhancing cooperation in several priority areas including counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defense, peacekeeping and military medicine, and regular exchanges of experts. Singh highlighted the Indian strength in the defense manufacturing and outlined domestic capabilities in drone and counter-drone systems, emphasizing that Indian companies would be able to meet Morocco's operational requirements.Both ministers emphasized increasing co-development and co-production opportunities in the defense sector, as well as increased military-to-military exchanges. The two leaders also noted the importance of coordinated maritime security efforts, noting that the Indian Ocean and Atlantic corridors are strategically relevant to global trade and stability.Describing the MoU as a milestone in bilateral defense ties, Singh invited Loudiyi to India for further discussions. Both sides agreed that the pact reflects their growing strategic convergence and commitment to addressing regional and global security challenges together. This international trip, the first of its kind in the Indian Defence Minister history to Morocco, highlights the transition from "Make in India" to "Make for the World". The event shows India's ability to not only meet but also create demand in the global defense market.As a consequence of the increasing interest in Indian weapons and platforms authored most notably by Operation Sindoor, the BrahMos missile system continues to attract buyers from almost a dozen countries, including the Philippines.Since 2014, India has made significant strides toward domestic defence production and created a vibrant indigenous defence industry that has self-reliance as its primary focus. Supported by the reforms of the Make in India initiative, the sector has become a center for the development and application of cutting-edge military technologies, thus being a source of both economic growth and strategic depth.Defence exports hit an all-time high of 23,622 crore (USD 2.76 billion) in FY 2024-25, showing a 12 percent annual growth. The public and private sectors together dispatched 8,389 crore and 15,233 crore worth of defence products, respectively. Today, India is exporting defence equipment to more than 100 countries, including the US, France, and Armenia, the basket consisting of missiles, artillery, aircraft, radars, and armoured vehicles.
< Page 8 | Page 10 >