Morocco Seeks Deeper Economic Partnership With India
New Delhi — Morocco is looking to deepen its economic partnership with India by positioning itself as a strategic gateway for Indian industries seeking access to European and African markets.
The North African country, which has emerged as a major industrial hub and remains a key supplier of phosphates to India, is seeking greater collaboration in sectors including defense, automotive, aerospace, green technologies and logistics, according to reports.
The push comes as India and Morocco have stepped up high-level engagement in recent months.
In September, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh held talks in New Delhi with visiting Moroccan Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Omar Hejira, with both sides discussing ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The growing partnership was also highlighted by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s landmark visit to Morocco, the first by an Indian defense minister.
During the visit, India and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation and held discussions on counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber defense and capacity building.
A key part of the visit was the joint inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Limited’s defense manufacturing facility in Berrechid by Singh and Moroccan Defense Minister Abdelatif Loudyi.
The facility, spread across 20,000 square meters, will manufacture the indigenously developed Wheeled Armored Platform 8×8, jointly designed by Tata Advanced Systems and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation.
India and Morocco have also been exploring greater cooperation in trade-focused sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and advanced manufacturing.
During his visit to Rabat, Singh also held talks with Morocco’s Minister of Trade Ryad Mezzour on expanding economic collaboration and investment opportunities.
Morocco’s emergence as a major industrial hub has increased its appeal to international investors. The country was recently ranked Africa’s leading industrial economy in the 2025 Africa Industrialisation Index published by the African Development Bank Group. It has also become Africa’s largest automotive exporter and one of the world’s fastest-growing vehicle manufacturing centers. (Source: IANS)
