ICAO World Aviation Forum
ICAO convened the second World Aviation Forum (IWAF 2016) under the theme “Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, on 26 September 2016 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal. The event was attended by 827 participants representing Member States, international organizations, financial institutions and the industry sector.
Building on the conclusions reached during the first IWAF held in November 2015, the participants agreed on the need to establish strong, long-term partnerships with the industry and financial institutions, on the importance of incorporating the aviation sector into the integrated transport system and on prioritizing aviation in development plans, actions that are supported by ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative.
States were also encouraged to take pragmatic measures to build a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate to support aviation development, for example, by engaging multi-stakeholders, by diversifying funding sources, and by elevating the role of the private sector.
The special needs and structural characteristics of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were recognized in the coordination, prioritization, facilitation and implementation of assistance programmes through the ICAO Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development.
During the event, particular attention was placed on the work of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, highlighting the need, inter alia, to:
• integrate all sustainable transport planning efforts with a balanced development of transport modes;
• create supportive institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks at the national level; and
• foster an informed, engaged public as a crucial partner in advancing a sustainable transport solution.
The closing communiqué reaffirmed ICAO’s leadership role in developing a coherent, global regulatory framework for civil aviation, removing impediments to the sustainability of air transport and creating a better business environment to promote tourism, trade and investment.
With the solid global consensus achieved on shared objectives at both IWAF events, the Secretariat will explore the possibility of evolving the IWAF model into a high-level dialogue that would focus on a more business-oriented, practical and results-based basis.
During the event, ICAO reached six new partnership agreements and project-based initiatives with States and international organizations.
