SEPTEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMJAPAN'S MIZUHO BANK FUNNELS USD 3.5 MILLION IN 3D PRINTER STARTUPMalaysia Airlines, which is part of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), sees India as an essential market for expansion. The airline currently offers flights to a total of nine cities in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Amritsar, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kochi. It also operates four flights per week to Ahmedabad and Trivandrum.The airline is eager to increase its presence in India, aiming to boost the number of flights to Trivandrum and Ahmedabad. Furthermore, Malaysia Airlines is looking into new locations within the country. The Group Managing Director, Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, highlighted the significance of the Indian market, linking the airline's eagerness to India's strong economic growth.At present, Malaysia Airlines runs 71 flights to India every week. The number of flights to Amritsar was recently raised from four to seven per week. In spite of these intentions, the airline has encountered operational difficulties, such as problems with the supply chain and limitations on manpower. Therefore, it has scaled back its network operations temporarily until December.Malaysia Airlines has formed a codeshare alliance with IndiGo and interline accords with Air India and Vistara. These collaborations make it easier for passengers to travel and increase the airline's access to locations not currently serviced by Malaysia Airlines.India's aviation sector is experiencing rapid growth on a global scale. The aviation agreements between India and Malaysia mainly focus on city routes, but there is potential for expanded flights to non-city destinations with less limitations.Ismail showed confidence in overcoming current operational challenges and reiterated the airline's dedication to expanding its presence in India by 2025. MAG's various business divisions, such as airlines, loyalty programs, and aviation services, help advance its strategic growth objectives. Mizuho Bank of Japan has put $3.5m into 3DEO, a US-based startup that produces metal parts and metal 3D printers. The startup is also involved in manufacturing metal parts through contract agreements. The investment utilized Mizuho Bank's Transition Investment Facility.3DEO is said to be utilizing the investment in order to broaden the range of its high-precision metal parts applications, produced using its in-house developed metal 3D printers.According to a press release, the manufactured components will be utilized in healthy industry, aerospace, medical, and semiconductors. Mizuho Bank, along with Seiko Epson Corporation, Development Bank of Japan, and Okazaki Shinkin Bank, will aid in the expansion of 3DEO by providing support and investments.Mizuho Bank stated that they believe investing in metal additive manufacturing will aid in passing down craftsmanship skills. The bank stated that it can formalize knowledge that skilled workers previously had.Mizuho Bank is a top global bank, having one of the biggest customer bases in Japan, as well as a worldwide network of financial and business centers. They persist in upholding their "customer first" principle as the focal point in assisting both their individual and corporate clients, with the aim of becoming their most reliable bank. MALAYSIA AIRLINES PLANS EXPANSION INTO INDIAN MARKET
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