TATA Advanced Systems, an Indian firm renowned for its expertise in military vehicle production, is on the verge of launching a new manufacturing plant in Morocco. This development is a key component of a broader military cooperation agreement between India and Morocco, reflecting Rabat's ambition to enhance its domestic military-industrial capabilities.
According to specialized sources, the company has recently completed all administrative procedures to establish its plant in Morocco. The facility is expected to be located in one of the two military manufacturing zones that Morocco plans to develop to attract foreign investment in the defense industry.
Military expert Mohamed Chiker commented to Assahifa that the establishment of this Indian company’s factory in Morocco is a result of a military cooperation agreement between Morocco and India. This partnership is part of Morocco’s strategy to diversify its military partnerships, focusing not only on purchasing weapons but also on developing a domestic military industry.
Chiker also noted that India, along with Brazil, the United States, and Israel, is among the countries Morocco can rely on to build its local military industry. The legal framework for foreign military investment, recently approved by the Moroccan parliament, has played a significant role in attracting TATA to open a branch in Morocco. This move is expected to encourage other foreign arms manufacturers to invest in the Kingdom.
The military expert believes that the opening of the Indian company’s factory in Morocco will significantly contribute to establishing a local military industry. Given the company’s global expertise in producing military vehicles and other defense equipment, this aligns with Morocco’s strategy to focus on manufacturing spare parts, ammunition, and light weapons, as well as military vehicles that could be exported to the African market after fulfilling the country’s needs.
It is worth noting that last year, India announced a plan to increase its arms exports to African countries, including Morocco. In recent years, India has focused on modernizing its weapons production and incorporating modern technology, making it a competitive player in the global arms market alongside the United States, China, and Russia.
India has showcased its latest defense products, including military helicopters, drones, and defense systems, to several African countries, including Morocco, aiming to attract new customers in the continent. The prices offered by India are generally lower compared to other arms-producing nations.
This Indian push to expand its defense market coincides with Morocco’s plan to comprehensively upgrade its military arsenal and establish a domestic defense industry. The convergence of interests between India and Morocco is expected to lead to bilateral defense cooperation, either through increased Moroccan imports of Indian weapons or by attracting Indian arms manufacturers to invest in Morocco. The political and diplomatic relations between the two countries are currently at their strongest.
