Ashraf AboArafe
Today, His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, opened the work of the fifteenth edition of the International Air Services Negotiations Conference (ICAN) 2023, affiliated with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, in the presence of His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, with the participation of industry leaders in the world and a number of ministers and heads of civil aviation authorities, with the participation of more than 700 experts and specialists in the field of aviation in the world, and delegations from more than 100 countries and organizations, which lasts for five days.
In his speech during the ceremony prepared for this occasion, His Excellency stressed that holding the conference for the second time on the territory of the Kingdom is a true embodiment of the Kingdom’s keenness to achieve leadership in the global aviation sector and to cooperate with the International Civil Aviation Organization, offering thanks to the organization for its partnership and support in hosting this important event. Announcing that this edition of the conference has set a new record for the number of attendees, after it succeeded in attracting more than 100 countries and organizations to participate, in a new confirmation of the importance of the conference and its success in achieving its goals and advancing the global aviation sector.
He reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them – in helping its partners in various countries of the world to grow and succeed, especially in the transportation and logistics services sector, stressing that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 seeks with confident steps towards prosperity and progress, and achieving its strategic goals of creating… A prosperous economy, building a vibrant society and an ambitious nation.
His Excellency said: “In the vision’s quest to achieve its goals, its efforts are integrated with the national strategy for transport and logistics services, to connect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the world through a comprehensive, diverse and innovative transport network, and from this strategy emerged the national strategy for the civil aviation sector, because of its exceptional importance in the movement Transportation, so we were keen to launch the National Aviation Strategy, to work to increase air connectivity to the Kingdom, enhance commercial cooperation with our partners from various countries of the world, and open doors to tourism and achieve economic prosperity.
He stressed that the Kingdom has always been, and still is, keen to strengthen its cross-border relations, and hosting the ICANN 2023 conference comes to embody the commitment and pursuit of dialogue, exchange of experiences and cultures, and work to build a united and cooperative global aviation sector, indicating that the agreements that will result from this conference, and aspects of cooperation and partnerships The various aspects that will be held within this global event will not only have a positive impact on the aviation sector alone, but will extend to include all sectors related to it, including tourism, trade, and others. These partnerships also contribute directly to enhancing international cooperation on a large scale.
For his part, the Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation said: The National Aviation Strategy seeks to emphasize the Kingdom’s pioneering role in the field of civil aviation in the Middle East region, by attracting investments worth $100 billion and creating an exceptional travel experience for more than 330 million passengers annually by 2030. The strategy is usually considered a comprehensive plan covering the activities of airports, airlines, aircraft and air service facilities, including air freight and logistics services.
He drew attention to the strategy that will increase the ability of travelers to reach various countries of the world, and increase the scope of the Kingdom’s air connectivity to more than 250 destinations through 29 airports, in addition to the Authority’s endeavor to establish a network of airports with diverse capabilities and tasks, which includes two global centers in Riyadh and Jeddah. It is expected that the strategy will contribute to creating significant growth in the field of shipping and logistics services, increasing the volume of air freight from 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons by 2030. All of these initiatives will contribute to attracting global airlines, logistics service providers and multinational companies. To come and take advantage of the unique opportunities the Kingdom provides.
His Excellency reviewed the major transformation witnessed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation as a strategic regulatory body that contributed to preparing the market and providing appropriate regulatory conditions that help attract investments and provide growth opportunities throughout the Kingdom. To embody this role, the General Authority of Civil Aviation conducted this year the largest Economic reforms of their kind since the launch of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, with the aim of providing an attractive market for investors and operators from all over the world, which contributes to increasing competitiveness and transparency, providing more options for travelers, and achieving sustainable growth. Last November, the Authority also issued a new regulation to protect the rights of travelers. It ensures that travelers receive care, support and compensation in the face of any difficulties that the flight may encounter, which contributes to improving the quality of air transport services and improving the traveler’s experience.
He stressed that the General Authority of Civil Aviation is keen to contribute, through its various efforts, to creating a safer and more sustainable global civil aviation system, and in this context, the Authority welcomes communication, cooperation, and the exchange of experiences, with various concerned parties, to build sustainable and advanced aviation systems in the Kingdom and in other countries. the world.
In turn, the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council, Salvatore Schacchitano, confirmed that the International Conference for Air Services Negotiations (ICAN) has succeeded, since its launch in 2008, in hosting more than 5,000 bilateral meetings, which resulted in the signing of nearly 4,000 agreements and memorandums of cooperation, in which 160 participated. Country from all over the world.
