H.E Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission delivered keynote speech during the extraordinary meeting of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) air transport meeting organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in collaboration with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually from 15th to 16th July and included the twenty-fourth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan), the tenth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Security and facilitation in Africa (AFI SECFAL) and the 8th Meeting of the AFI Directors General of Civil Aviation.
The African Director Generals of Civil Aviation Authorities, The ICAO Secretary General Dr Fang Liu, Mr Tefera Mekonnen TEFERA, the Secretary General of AFCAC and the Regional Directors of ICAO, representatives from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Airports Council International (ACI) and Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) attended the meeting.
In her keynote speech, H.E Dr Amani Abou-Zeid Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of African Union Commission thanked ICAO and AFCAC for organizing the extraordinary AFI week meetings, which are geared towards the improvement of Aviation Safety, Security and Facilitation in the AFI Region as well as the full operationalization of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the sustainable development of air transport on the continent.
She also thanked African air transport stakeholders for the collaboration and partnerships established since 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and until now when the African air transport sector is still facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic. She also recognised all stakeholders for the support given to Member States in the implementation of continental and global recovery strategies for the air transport sector.
H.E Dr Amani further congratulated the outgoing Secretary General of ICAO, Dr Fang Liu for her excellent leadership and her dedication to advancing the air transport industry in Africa during her 6 years tenure. She particularly thanked Dr Fang Liu for her personal commitment to the improvement of aviation safety and security in Africa through the support provided to AFCAC, her excellent leadership and guidance in the activities of the AFI-Plan and the “No country left behind” initiative.
The two days meeting adopted the revised Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan) for the period 2021-2024 and the revised Comprehensive regional Implementation plan for aviation security and facilitation for 2021. The meeting also urged the African Director Generals of Civil Aviation to fast tract the implementation of the continental targets in aviation safety, security and facilitation with close collaboration with ICAO, AFCAC and other air transport stakeholders.
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About AFI Plan
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan) was developed to address the concerns expressed by the ICAO Council on the safety status of aircraft operations in the African-Indian Ocean (AFI) Region. The Council recognized that the problem facing the States in the AFI Region and many other States are similar in nature.
The AFI Plan was adopted by the 36th ICAO Assembly (Assembly Resolution A36-1). To implement the AFI Plan, the ICAO Secretary General established on 1st January 2008 the AFI Comprehensive Implementation Programme (ACIP). ACIP developed its work programme around three focus areas to give effect to the objectives of the AFI Plan:
1. Enabling States to establish and maintain a sustainable safety oversight system (infra-structure and capacity building);
2. Assisting States to resolve identified deficiencies within a reasonable time; and
3. Enhancing aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.
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