India, Morocco Open First Indian Defence Plant in Africa

During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s historic two-day visit to Morocco, India and Morocco inaugurated TATA Advanced Systems Maroc (TASM), the first Indian defence manufacturing facility in Africa, at Berrechid. The plant will produce the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 for Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and for export markets in Africa. It was established in partnership between Morocco’s Administration of National Defense, India’s Ministry of Defence and TATA Advanced Systems, and will initially use roughly 35% locally produced components with a target of 50% through training, supplier development and technology transfer. The facility is expected to generate about 90 direct and 250 indirect jobs. Officials said they plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation during the visit and framed the project as part of India’s shift from "Make in India" to "Make for the World" and Aatmanirbhar Bharat ambitions.