Morocco to purchase defence products of Indian companies

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The Head Wali of Military Command of Casablanca and Indian Ambassador to Morocco Sanjay Rana received Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Mohammed V International Airport
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Morocco’s Defence Minister  Abdeltif Loudiyi held a bilateral meeting in Rabat today ( September 22) .  Both ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation. This is the first ever visit of any Indian Defence Minister in Morocco.

The MoU , signed by both Defence Ministers , provides for a robust institutional framework to the growing partnership and paves the way for collaboration in defence industry, joint exercises, military training and capacity building.

According to a press release, both leaders decided to intensify defence industry collaboration and agreed on a comprehensive roadmap covering counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and expert exchanges.

“The discussions between the two Ministers reflected the shared resolve to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between India and Morocco”, said the release.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , to give momentum to these initiatives, announced the opening of a new Defence Wing at the Embassy of India in Rabat. He also highlighted the maturity of India’s defence industry and its cutting-edge capabilities, including drone and counter-drone technologies, assuring the Moroccan side that Indian companies are well-positioned to meet the requirements of Morocco’s defence forces.

The Defence Minister met Indians living in Morocco

Both Ministers underscored the importance of enhancing exchanges between Armed Forces, facilitating training programmes and exploring opportunities for co-development and co-production in the defence sector. They also stressed the need for multilateral cooperation to address global and regional security challenges and welcomed closer coordination in maritime security given the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic corridors.

Rajnath Singh  also extended a formal invitation to Mr. Loudiyi to visit India for further discussions on expanding defence cooperation.

“The meeting marks a significant milestone in the bilateral defence relationship, reflecting the growing convergence of strategic interests between India and Morocco,” said the release.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on his two day visit to Morocco. He was received at Mohammed V International Airport by the Head Wali of Military Command of Casablanca and Indian Ambassador to Morocco  Sanjay Rana. Rajnath Singh also met the people of the Indian community  living in Morocco.