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ICAO Council’s president, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, met with Ethiopia’s president, prime minister and ministers of foreign affairs and transport, ICAO said.
During the meeting, Ethiopian President H.E Mulatu Teshome and Prime Minister H.E Hailemariam Desalegn “concurred on the need for Ethiopia to continue to enhance its role as a champion of growth of aviation on the African continent,” according to ICAO.
“Council President Aliu stressed his appreciation for the prioritization of aviation modernization and growth needs within Ethiopia’s national and regional strategic growth plans, in addition to the key role to be played by continued progress on the liberalization of air transport Africa-wide, notably through the realization of a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision,” ICAO said. “The need to strengthen internal oversight capacities was also highlighted.”
During his time in Africa, ICAO said Aliu also spoke with the African Union’s commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, and the commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture. They spoke of measures to leverage the benefits of air transport into the economy, and of challenges presented by the growing use of remotely piloted aircraft systems for agricultural operations in Africa.