Govts, experts move to tackle Africa’s aviation crises

[TGD]

TO proffer solutions to Africa's aviation woes, experts, top government officials, aircraft manufacturers and others will meet today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Expected at the event are the President of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya Kikwete; Nigeria's Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi; her counterparts from Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and other policy makers in Africa.

The leadership conference is expected to strongly promote the opening of intra-African markets, as well as the build-up and prioritisation of effective leadership to drive aviation transformation in Africa.

About 250 delegates from Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia as well as North and South America, will gauge the progress of Africa's aviation industry, vis-à-vis global industry trends, and bolster efforts to re-instate the industry on a more effective growth path.

The Managing Director of Land Over Aviation Company and the Convener of the Aviation and Allied Business Leadership yearly conference, Captain Edward Boyo, has said that this year's gathering in Dar es Salaam, will provide an avenue for the public and private sectors to discuss how to move Africa's aviation forward.

The theme of this year's gathering, according to the convener is "Air transport in Africa: Strengthening leadership, sustaining growth," adding that the 17th edition was sequel to the 16th conference held 2010 in Gaborone, Botswana, with the theme "Air transport in Africa: The challenge of leadership."

According to him, "The conference will provide an avenue for the public and private sectors to seek the best way forward for air transport in Africa.

"This year's conference thus will reappraise the impact of effective leadership on the air transport industry in the African region, and help to drive proactive leadership systems, which will fast-track Africa's air transport transformation."

The yearly aviation meeting, according to him, is one of the biggest air transport events in Africa in 2011, which will be driven by high-level industry experts and leaders, including African air transport ministers, directors-general of African Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs), chief executive officers of airports, Airlines and Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs), as well as representatives from the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), United States, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

He listed the major areas the conference will focus on to include safety and security, airports development and ground handling, airline management, policy formulation and effective regulation, as well as human resource and infrastructure transformation.

The chief executive officer of Land Over added that the Tanzania meeting would also feature a special session on the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) pursuant to the objective of giving impetus to this acclaimed liberalisation instrument.

On what the impact of the summit is expected to achieve, he said: "The outcome of the conference is expected to form key inputs to both states and private sector actions on air transport development in Africa and seek sustainability of the future of air transport on the continent."

He added that top industry chief executive officers and experts have been picked to lead a unique interactive session on a future-based Yamoussoukro Declaration, as well as burning issues on capacity transformation, which is the bedrock of needed improvements in Africa's air transport industry.

The Guardian