How is Rajnath Singh Recognizing the Indian Community's Role in Morocco's Progress?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rajnath Singh acknowledges the contributions of the Indian community in Morocco.
- This visit marks the first by an Indian Defence Minister to Morocco.
- New manufacturing facility in Morocco signifies a milestone in India's defense exports.
- A MoU on Defence Cooperation will formalize ties between the two nations.
- India's naval relations with Morocco are strengthening through regular Indian Navy port calls.
Rabat, Sep 22 (NationPress) During his groundbreaking two-day official visit to Morocco, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged with the Indian diaspora in Rabat, commending their significant contributions to both their host country and India.
This visit marks the inaugural trip by an Indian Defence Minister to this North African nation, underscoring the strengthening strategic relationship between India and Morocco.
On the social media platform X, Rajnath Singh expressed his gratitude towards the Indian community in Morocco:
“It was a pleasure to engage with the Indian community in Rabat. I acknowledged their hard work and commitment that characterizes the Indian community worldwide. It is commendable how they are advancing Morocco’s development while remaining connected to their Indian heritage.”
The Defence Minister’s office further shared: “Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh met with the Indian Community in Rabat, Morocco. He reflected on India’s transformative journey over the last decade across various sectors including economy, manufacturing, technology, startups, digital innovation, and defence capabilities. The Indian diaspora expressed growing pride in India’s enhanced global stature.”
As per an official announcement from the Ministry of Defence, this visit, initiated by Morocco’s Minister Delegate of National Defence Abdeltif Loudiyi, aims to bolster defence, strategic, and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
A key feature of the visit will be the launch of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing plant in Berrechid, which will produce the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8. This marks the first Indian defence manufacturing facility in Africa, representing a significant achievement for India’s defence exports under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
During his visit, Rajnath Singh is set to conduct bilateral discussions with Loudiyi and meet Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to investigate new opportunities for industrial cooperation.
The two nations are anticipated to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, creating a formal framework for enhanced defence relations, training programs, exchanges, and industrial partnerships.
“The relationship between India and Morocco has gained traction following His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s meeting with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2015 in India. This forthcoming visit is expected to inject new vitality into this partnership, particularly in the defence and strategic domains,” stated the Defence Ministry.
India’s naval collaboration with Morocco has also been on the rise, with regular port calls by the Indian Navy at Casablanca in recent years. The upcoming MoU is expected to further strengthen these maritime connections.