Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. File
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a three-day visit to Morocco from September 21 to 23, where he will hold bilateral talks and inaugurate India’s first overseas Defence manufacturing facility in Casablanca.
A senior Defence official confirmed that Mr. Singh will lead a delegation to launch the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) plant, established in partnership with Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces. The facility will initially assemble Wheeled Armoured Platform 8×8 vehicles for Moroccan forces, with plans to expand production for the larger African market.
Officials said the visit signals a new phase in India–Africa Defence engagement, coming ahead of the India–Africa Forum Summit scheduled for next year. India and African nations have stepped up cooperation in recent years through training, capacity building, and joint exercises. The India–Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD), the Defence Ministers’ Conclave (IADMC), and the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) naval exercise in April underline this expanding partnership.
The Casablanca factory marks a strategic milestone for India’s Defence industry, combining overseas manufacturing with deeper diplomatic and security ties in Africa.
Published – September 19, 2025 10:23 pm IST
