India Morocco Relations: Trade Agreement, Summit, Partnership - UPSC Notes

The longstanding alliance between India and Morocco is marked by mutual trust and collaborative goals. Morocco, positioned in the North Africa / Africa, is crucial to maintaining international stability and security. In 1957, India and Morocco commenced diplomatic relations, building a foundation for enduring bilateral cooperation. India and Morocco maintain a Embassies in New Delhi and Rabat, with embassies in each other’s capitals, ensuring seamless diplomatic engagement. The India-Morocco relationship is of Gateway to Africa, phosphates, regional stability, with defense collaboration, economic partnerships, cultural interactions, and aligned global security priorities forming key components. 

• India and Morocco have established strong cooperation in Trade, investment, agriculture, security, education, culture such as defense, nuclear energy, trade, space, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• Several significant agreements in areas such as Trade (1981), DTAA (2000), Security Cooperation (2018), Air Services (2000/2018), Cultural Exchange (1981), MoU on Cybersecurity (2018), MoU on Defence Cooperation (2020) have been signed between India and Morocco to promote cooperation. 
• Available data shows that India and Morocco maintain a trade volume of USD 285 billion (2023-24), underscoring their growing trade relationship. 
• India’s export relationship with Morocco is marked by the regular supply of Automotive parts, petroleum oils, cotton yarn, chemicals, pharmaceuticals across various industries. 
• India and Morocco maintain strong trade ties, with Phosphates, phosphoric acid, diammonium phosphate (DAP), fertilizers being among the main imports. 

ITEC, ICCR scholarships, AI, IT, space technology cooperation forms an important part of India–Morocco relations, strengthening knowledge-sharing and capacity building. Covering themes such as Lines of Credit, Export to India, and Indian Companies operating in India Morocco Relations, this article is a one-stop reference for GS Mains and PSIR Optional. 

India Morocco Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

Historical connections such as Ibn Battuta's visit, diplomatic ties 1957 mark the beginning of India–Morocco relations. Diplomatic ties between India and Morocco were strengthened through historic visits like King Mohammed VI (2001, 2015 IAFS), Indian VP Hamid Ansari (2016). 

• Early ties, strengthening economic cooperation, strategic dialogue reflect how the partnership between India and Morocco has developed over time.

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Morocco Relations

Indias ties with Morocco are of Gateway to Africa, phosphates, regional stability, often involving defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and shared global security objectives. 

• Through MoU on Defence Cooperation (2020), training, visits, both India and Morocco build strong military partnerships to defend common interests and improve regional security. 
• India and Morocco work together through Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (2018), Security Cooperation MoU (2018), maintaining cooperation by sharing information and tracking terrorist threats. 
• India’s MoU on Cooperation in Cybersecurity (2018) initiatives with Morocco strengthen digital defense, promote R&D, and support tech-driven growth. 
• Through UN, NAM, G77, OIC, Arab League (Morocco), India and Morocco contribute to global peace, multilateral diplomacy, and coordinated policy efforts. 
• The growing Renewable energy, discussions on green hydrogen between India and Morocco includes collaboration on clean energy, solar power, and energy security. 
• Through enhanced ISRO launched Moroccan satellite (2001), MoU (2018), India and Morocco aim to accelerate research cooperation, foster technological collaboration, and explore new frontiers in space. 
• India and Morocco have entered into agreements in areas such as Air Services Agreement (2000, updated 2018), e-Visa facility to foster improved travel and bilateral engagement. 
• India and Morocco are working through Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (DTAA) in force (2000) to minimize tax evasion risks and improve cross-border compliance.

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Trade and Economic Overview of India Morocco Relations

• India and Morocco have entered into multiple agreements in sectors like Trade (1981), DTAA (2000), Security Cooperation (2018), Air Services (2000/2018), Cultural Exchange (1981), MoU on Cybersecurity (2018), MoU on Defence Cooperation (2020) to strengthen bilateral ties. 
• The bilateral trade between India and Morocco stands at USD 285 billion (2023-24), reflecting increasing economic interdependence. 
• Investment flows involve Indian JVs in Morocco (phosphates), Moroccan investments in India, as well as shared projects aimed at enhancing mutual investment ties. 
• Regular meetings like Joint Commission Meeting (7th round 2019), Strategic Dialogue (2023), usually taking place annually or every two years, aim to promote and assess the trade and investment relationship between India and its partner country. 
• During the reported period, Morocco exported goods worth USD 173 billion (2023-24) to India. 
• India supplies Automotive parts, petroleum oils, cotton yarn, chemicals, pharmaceuticals to Morocco under their strong trade relations, boosting bilateral economic growth and cooperation. 

Moroccos import volume from India has been recorded at USD 112 billion (2023-24). Indian companies operating in Morocco include Tata Motors, Mahindra, Sun Pharma, phosphate JVs, contributing to economic collaboration.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

India and Morocco gain from the impactful presence of their diaspora, which plays an essential part in enhancing Business, professionals, cultural promotion. India builds strong bonds with its partner country through Cultural Exchange Programme, Yoga Day, film festivals that spread cultural awareness. India is helping to improve education links with its partner country by doing things like ICCR/ITEC scholarships, university linkages, student exchange. 

• The cultural and economic bond between India and Morocco is reinforced by the significant presence of the Indian-origin community. 
• India and Morocco use Economic partnerships, cultural diplomacy, capacity building to fortify their strategic stance and boost their global influence.

India Morocco Relations Recent Developments

Through Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita (Feb 2023, Feb 2024), Moroccan Minister of Agriculture (Nov 2023), India and Morocco have strengthened bilateral cooperation across strategic and economic sectors. The scope of Mutual Legal Assistance (2018), Extradition (2018), Cybersecurity (2018) illustrates a continued focus on critical sectors such as health, mobility, and renewable energy. 

• India’s collaboration with Morocco includes Phosphate joint ventures, automotive sector cooperation, contributing to long-term partnerships. 
• While the partnership is strong, Trade balance (often favors Morocco), Western Sahara issue continue to require policy-level attention. 
• India and Morocco hold promising Deepen strategic partnership, diversify trade, green energy in multiple areas of bilateral cooperation.

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UPSC Relevance of India Morocco Relations

• Knowledge of India–Morocco ties aids in answering map-based or factual questions related to international groupings and summits.
• India–Morocco relations are integral to GS Paper 2 (International Relations) under bilateral, regional, and global groupings.
• Examples from the relationship highlight themes like ethical leadership, peaceful conflict resolution, or value-based foreign policy.
• History optional students may refer to ancient or colonial connections between India and Morocco.