AVIATION-

Qatar Airways has more than 120 Boeing aircraft in its order pipeline, Zawya quotes the company’s president in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa Kuljit Ghata-Aura as saying. The airline ordered 74 777X aircraft, 19 787-9 aircraft, 25 737-10 aircraft, six 737-8 aircraft, and two 777 freighters. The company previously added two new Boeing 777 freighters to its cargo routes with Saudi Arabia, as well as its second Boeing 737-8 back in May. “These new airplanes will support Qatar Airways as it expands its passenger and cargo capacity. Boeing is also supporting Qatar Airways Cargo in developing ‘connected cargo’ solutions to enable greater operational efficiency with a focus on the 777-8 freighter,” he said.

RAIL-

Work on strategic corridor linking Turkey + Azerbaijan is almost complete: Construction work on the Turkish section of the the strategic Zangazur Corridor linking Azerbaijan’s capital Baku with eastern Turkey via Armenia is slated for completion this year, Azernews reported, citing statements by Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu. Work on the Azerbaijani side is also set for completion by year’s end, the minister added.

The corridor is a component of the larger International North-South Transport Corridor, and looks to improve connectivity and boost trade between Turkey, Russia, Iran, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Moreover, the project can contribute to improving historically strained Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, Azernews added.

DIGITIZATION-

Bahrain’s Industry and Commerce Ministry has launched a new national initiative dubbed iFactories, in partnership with private sector assistance firm Tamkeen, to upgrade the country’s industrial sector, Bahrain News Agency reports. The initiative aims to transform some 300 plants into smart factories by 2026 by automating operations, integrating modern technologies, and reducing dependence on unskilled manpower.

Dubai CommerCity is launching a new system to integrate blockchain technology into the logistics operations of SMEs involved in digital commerce, Zawya reports. The move aims to enhance efficiency and flexibility in digital trade while reducing costs for these companies. The system, Logi-Flow, operates on a pay-as-you-go model tied to transaction volume and offers round-the-clock support without IT service and maintenance costs. “This step addresses challenges that companies might face across various stages of e-commerce operations, particularly during the initial setup. These challenges involve the costs of establishing a proprietary blockchain platform, coupled with ongoing operational expenses due to continuous system operations,” Senior Vice President for Property Management and Supply Chain Abdulrahman Shaheen said.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Ocean freight giant MSC adding KSA Port of Neom service in September: MSC will reportedly be kicking off services at Neom’s port in Oxagon on the Red Sea coast next month, NEOM Directory and News reported, citing BunkerSpot. In addition to ocean freight services, clients will also have access to onland transport solutions via MSC’s MEDLOG subsidiary. MSC has yet to officially announce the new service.

TRADE-

Jordan is looking to establish a new border crossing with Saudi Arabia to reduce congestion at the Durah crossing, Zawya reports, citing a Jordanian official. The new border crossing will connect Aqaba with KSA’s border in Tabuk Province, chairman of the Special Aqaba Economic Zone Saudi Nayef Al-Fayez said. Designs are set to be finalized by the end of 2023, after which tenders for the project will be issued, he added.

ZONES-

Sohar Port and Freezone inked a land lease agreement with Air Care Systems Company (Freezone Company) to set up a USD 10 mn 15k sqm manufacturing facility for industrial and medical gasses in Sohar Freezone, Oman News Agency reports. The project brings together Chinese and European technologies. It has an anticipated daily output of 11k tons and is poised to fulfill the need for the gasses in GCC countries, Yemen, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as boost self sufficiency in healthcare industries.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

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