ASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9MAYSAFRAN & UNI TRITECH PARTNER TO PRODUCE LEAP ENGINE PARTS IN INDIAFrench aerospace company Safran has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India-based Uni Tritech to manufacture components for LEAP aircraft engines in India. The partnership is expected to strengthen India's growing role in global aerospace manufacturing.Under the agreement, Uni Tritech will produce precision-engineered parts for LEAP engines, which are widely used in modern commercial aircraft. The move supports India's ambition to become a key aerospace manufacturing hub under the government's Make in India initiative.The LEAP engine is developed by CFM International, a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace. It powers popular aircraft models such as the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, both of which are used by airlines across the world.This collaboration is expected to boost India's aerospace manufacturing capabilities by increasing local production of high-precision aircraft components. It may also create opportunities for skilled jobs and help Indian companies become part of global aviation supply chains. Andhra Pradesh rare earth investment is gaining momentum as the state prepares a major investment drive aimed at building a complete ecosystem for strategic minerals.The government is targeting more than Rs 50,000 crore in investments over the next decade, focusing on mining, processing, and high-value manufacturing. This move comes as India looks to cut its reliance on China for rare earth materials and permanent magnets.The plan aligns with the Union Budget for 2026­27, where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced central support for rare earth corridors across coastal states, including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. The state now aims to turn that vision into a fully operational industrial network.A senior official said the government is working on a comprehensive rare earth policy, expected to be approved and notified by June 2026. Once cleared, the state will roll out industrial parks and define the rare earth corridor, while partnering with major companies to build an end-to-end value chain. Malaysian telecom operator Tune Talk launches e-commerce Shop Tune Talk Shop to Expand Digital Play.Built with Presto, the store offers more than 20,000 products across categories such as tech, home, lifestyle, and beauty.It supports payments through Touch `n Go eE-comWallet and allows users to redeem loyalty points, integrating commerce directly into its mobile ecosystem.The move comes as Malaysia's telecom market remains highly competitive and price-driven, particularly among Gen-Z ue-commercesers and foreign workers who are sensitive to spending. Operators often compete in a "GB for RM" model, where value is measured by how much data users get per ringgit. Tune Talk aims to move beyond this pricing battle by building a broader digital ecosystem focused on user value rather than just connectivity. ANDHRA PRADESH PLANS RS 50,000 CR RARE EARTH INVESTMENT DRIVETUNE TALK LAUNCHES ECOMMERCE SHOP TO EXPAND DIGITAL PLAYUP INDUSTRIAL PARK POLICY DRAWS PLUG-AND-PLAY INVESTORS TO STATEThe UP industrial park policy is gaining attention as the Uttar Pradesh government moves to bring private companies into the state's industrial expansion plans through ready-to-use business spaces.The state is promoting the Uttar Pradesh Private Business Park Development Scheme 2025 along with the UP Plug and Play Industrial Shed Policy 2026 to make it easier for companies to begin operations without long construction delays.Under the new framework, developers can build modern plug-and-play industrial parks where factory sheds, roads, water supply, and power connections are already in place before a company moves in.This reduces setup time for manufacturers and service firms that usually spend months, and sometimes years, securing land and building facilities from the ground up. Officials believe the model can help the state attract global companies, research centers, and global capability centers looking for faster expansion.
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