During a recent mission to the Republic of the Congo, ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu, underscored international air connectivity’s role as a critical catalyst for national economic development and encouraged the country’s leadership to make aviation a priority within its national economic strategy – a message she is stressing globally.
Invited by the Government of the Republic of Congo to address the Sixth Meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Region, Dr. Liu took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister, Mr. Clement Muamba, the Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and Merchant Navy, Mr. Gilbert Mokoki, and the Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr. Serge Dzota.
She highlighted on these occasions the support and cooperation ICAO offers Member States to make their air transport sectors more ICAO-compliant and therefore globally connected, and in particular the assistance and capacity building made available through ICAO’s Regional Offices in Africa under the Organization’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative.
At the national level, the Secretary General noted that ICAO’s Western and Central African (WACAF) Regional Office could be of particular help regarding the identification of the Republic of the Congo’s specific aviation needs, and the development of a master plan for satisfying these in coordination with bilateral and international partners. She stressed the plan could include human resources capacity building, strengthening oversight functions in the areas of Aerodromes and Air Operator Certification, Air Navigation Services, and Aviation Security and Facilitation.
Dr. Liu was accompanied on her Congo mission by the Representative of Congo on the ICAO Council, Mr. Ondzotto Maixent Raul, the Director of ICAO’s Air Transport Bureau, Mr. Boubacar Djibo, the ICAO Regional Director for Western and Central Africa, Mr. Mam Sait Jallow, the ICAO Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mr. Barry Kashambo, and Deputy Director of ICAO’s Air Navigation Bureau, Mr. Henry Gourdji.
Her visit also included an inspection of the new Regional Air Navigation Centre for the Brazzaville Flight Information Region, where she was received by the Director General of l’Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA), Mr. Amadou Ousmane Guitteye.
The mission to Brazzaville took place from 1 to 2 November 2016.
