MARCHASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMOMAN & UZBEKISTAN BOOST TRAVEL WITH NEW ROUTEOman Air intends to operate direct flights between Muscat and Tashkent beginning June 1, 2026, as a strategic move into Central Asia and as a way of enhancing bilateral connectivity between Oman and Uzbekistan.With the new weekly route, the airline will have added a total of the eighth new route to its network since December 2025, which highlights its fast-tracked international growth plan.The new route will facilitate access, which is smooth between the Gulf region and Central Asia to meet the increased tourism demand, business travel, and cultural exchange.Tashkent, the ancient city of the Silk Road, a mixture of Islamic architecture and Soviet-style and modernism, is becoming a major tourist and business center in Central Asia. Muscat, a long-established maritime trading hub, is the point of entry into the Arabian Peninsula and has further connectivity to the Middle East and Asia, as well as the rest of the world.The direct connection will enhance the efficiency of the travel and promote two-way traffic of the passengers by removing transit stopovers.The relocation is also indicative of increased economic and diplomatic interaction between the two countries which has made Oman Air a rising bridge between the developing markets and the established global aviation routes. SOUTH KOREA ALLOCATES $488M TO BOOST AI MANUFACTURING INDUSTRYSouth Korea plans to invest more than 700 billion won (US! 487.7 million) in 2021 to expand AI manufacturing capacity through the M.AX Alliance, a governmental program designed to reinforce the industrial AI ecosystem in the country.The M.AX Alliance, which was founded in September 2025, has grown remarkably to include more than 1,300 member companies including such giants as Samsung Electronics, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and LG Electronics.These are already bearing fruit and the alliance has already achieved a 20 percent efficiency improvement at GS Caltex and 12.5 percent cut in welding time at HD Hyundai.Besides this, the South Korean government intends to spend 1 trillion won (US$696.7 million) within a period of five years on K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development project to develop AI chips to be utilized in self-driving vehicles, humanoids and home appliances.This AI push is viewed as a strategic need to reduce the lead that South Korea has against China in terms of manufacturing with only 32.4% of Korean manufacturers saying they are technologically ahead, compared to 90% in 2010.The goal of the government is to create more than 100 trillion won (US 72 billion) of added value by 2030, and one of the priorities is associated with the linkage of industrial policy with the provision of state financing, which contributes to long-term economic growth and competitiveness of the country. Key Highlights· Oman Air to launch direct Muscat­Tashkent flights from June 1, 2026.· Twice-weekly service strengthens connectivity between Muscat and Tashkent.· Move expands Central Asia access, boosting tourism and business travel.Key Highlights· South Korea will invest 700 billion won to expand AI manufacturing.· The government is committing 1 trillion won to develop AI semiconductors.· The plan targets 100 trillion won in added value by 2030.
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