India, Morocco ink MoU to deepen defence ties

• India and Morocco inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost military cooperation following talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi in Rabat on September 22.

• The MoU 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.

• 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.

• The MoU will provide for an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages.

India-Morocco Relations

• Relations between India and Morocco go back to the 14th century when the famous traveller and writer from Tangier, Ibn Batuta, travelled to India. 

• In modern history, India was active in the UN supporting the Moroccan freedom movement and recognised Morocco on June 20, 1956 immediately after its independence. 

• Diplomatic relations were established in 1957. 

• Over the years, India and Morocco have enjoyed cordial and friendly relations.

• Ties between India and Morocco gained momentum since King Mohammed VI’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2015 in New Delhi. 

• The bilateral trade between India and Morocco was at $2.55 billion in FY 2024-25 compared to $2.4 billion in 2023-24. 

• Exports from India also registered a growth of over 105 per cent in the last two years. 

• Morocco is a top destination for new products from India like mobile phones, petroleum products and honey. 

• Other major items of India’s exports to Morocco are automotive parts, electronics, textiles, engineering goods, chemicals and specialty chemicals, plastics and spices. 

• Main items of Moroccan exports to India are phosphoric acid, phosphate, metallic ores and metal spray and inorganic chemicals.

• A number of Indian companies have a presence in Morocco.

• An Indian community in Morocco is around 1,350 people. Many of them are engaged in businesses and are based in the city of Casablanca, the commercial and trade hub of Morocco.