India and Morocco are in advanced discussions to expand cooperation in defense and industrial sectors, including a potential joint project to produce a complete aircraft in Morocco, India’s ambassador to Rabat said.
Ambassador Sanjay Rana told Hespress that bilateral cooperation is moving beyond last year’s launch of a Tata Advanced Systems defense plant near Berrechid, which manufactures armored vehicles, toward more ambitious joint manufacturing initiatives.
“We have plans to produce a full aircraft jointly in Morocco,” Rana said, adding that discussions are ongoing as part of a broader push to strengthen industrial collaboration.
The Tata facility marked a “new phase” in India-Morocco defense ties, according to Rana, with Moroccan engineers and technicians working alongside Indian technology and designs to produce equipment for both domestic use and export markets.
“This is a unique example of Moroccan-made products with Indian technology,” he said, highlighting the growing integration of local expertise into advanced manufacturing.
India is now seeking to extend this cooperation into other sectors, including automotive production and defense industries, as part of its “Make in India” strategy, which also promotes joint manufacturing abroad.
Indian companies are also looking to expand investments in Morocco across several sectors, including pharmaceuticals, automotive manufacturing and renewable energy, he said.
India already has major pharmaceutical firms operating in Morocco and is keen to deepen cooperation in vaccine and drug production, building on collaboration during the COVID‑19 pandemic when Morocco imported millions of vaccine doses from India.
He said Morocco’s industrial infrastructure and geographic proximity to African and European markets make it an attractive hub for export-oriented manufacturing.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown significantly in recent years, rising from about $2.5 billion before the pandemic to over $4 billion, although Rana said it still falls short of its full potential.
“There are many areas where we can diversify our partnership, including renewable energy, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals,” he said.
The ambassador added that discussions could eventually lead to a free trade agreement or a preferential trade deal, describing such a step as a “natural progression” in bilateral relations.
Tourism is also expanding, with around 45,000 Indian tourists visiting Morocco last year, a figure Moroccan authorities hope to more than double.
To support this growth, both sides are studying proposals to launch direct air links, which Rana described as essential to boosting tourism and investment flows.
Rana said Morocco and India share a common outlook centred on economic cooperation and engagement with African markets, positioning themselves as gateways for trade and investment across the continent.
