MONTRÉAL, 1 April 2015 – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will be hosting a series of important open and invitation-only meetings this May, as it continues to further its strategic objectives and enhance the aviation network supporting its Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) Region.
Dubbed ‘AFI Aviation Week’, the group of meetings will take place from 18-21 May in Maputo, Mozambique. They will include the first meeting of the AFI Security/Facilitation (SECFAL) Initiative Steering Committee (invitation-only) on 18 May; the Fifteenth Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan) Steering Committee Meeting (invitation-only) on 19 May; the Second AFI Aviation Safety Symposium (open session) on 20 May; and lastly a meeting of the AFI Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF, invitation-only) on 21 May.
“In Africa today, aviation supports almost seven million jobs and approximately 80 billion dollars in GDP,” remarked ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin. “And for many States it represents an essential lifeline that connects them to regional and global markets while enhancing travel and tourism, the movement of goods and other vital business activities.”
The Secretary General will be participating in the four-day series of meetings in Maputo, where he will be joined by three of his senior Directors and ICAO’s Regional Directors for the Eastern and Southern African (ESAF) Office and Western and Central African (WACAF) Office.
AFI Aviation Week is expected to be well attended by Directors General of Civil Aviation from the region, government officials in the fields of aviation security and facilitation, as well as representatives from other States, international and regional organizations and industry.
“This series of meeting will provide ICAO, its Member States and partner organizations with an excellent opportunity to progress our safety and security priorities in this region,” added ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. “It is a key goal for our Organization to assist our States to the fullest extent possible with respect to the implementation of ICAO standards and policies. Only in this way can we ensure that No Country is Left Behind and optimize the socio-economic benefits which derive from safe, secure and reliable air transport in Africa, fully in line with local needs and expectations.”
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