Aviation conference discusses Africa’s attractiveness as a global destination

Windhoek

The Minister of Works and Transport, Alpheus !Naruseb, has urged delegates attending the first Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa, taking place at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek, to move diligently and draw from past experiences to ensure Africa's attractiveness as a tourism and business destination. The conference, which is being attended by delegates from across Africa, started yesterday and will conclude on Friday.

"Our presence here as African states is a statement that we have decided to make the time and jointly discuss any practice that fragmented our collective strength and has robbed us of many golden opportunities to accelerate Africa's socio-economic development agenda," !Naruseb said yesterday during the official opening of the conference.

He noted that African air carriers cannot compete fairly with mega air carriers when subjected to operational bans, saying airlines are too often out-rightly blacklisted or allocated unattractive slots because they are flagships from a state considered incapable of carrying out its security oversight responsibilities effectively.

!Naruseb continued that the conference theme of "Unbroken African Commitment and Collaboration for a Global Sustainable Aviation Security System, Passenger and Trade Facilitation" has a lot of relevance for Namibia.

"We all know from past experience that persistent systematic safety related deficiencies in a state's regulatory oversight capability invariably affects a state in many ways. This, you all know, is an unenviable position for any state because this opens up a floodgate for unilateral actions that other states may consider against air carriers registered in the said state," he said.

Africa remains one of the fastest growing air travel markets but is confronted with numerous challenges due to deficiencies that are of a regulatory or oversight nature. This makes compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices difficult.

A United Nations World Trade Organisation study, carried out in 2013, indicated a total of 55.7 million international tourist arrivals to 10 of Africa's most frequented countries. This is an estimated 5.5 percent increase from 2012.

Namibia is signatory to and has ratified international conventions including the Tokyo (offences on board aircraft), the Hague (unlawful seizure of aircraft) and the Montreal (safety in civil aviation; unlawful acts at airports) conventions. "We are in the process of preparing for our first ICAO Comprehensive Validation Mission on Aviation Security and Facilitation under the ICAO Continuous Monitoring Approach under the Universal Audit programme," !Naruseb said.

Also speaking at the opening of the conference, ICAO's Director: Air Transport Bureau, Boubacar Djibo, explained that a tangible example of cooperation between African states is the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Security and Facilitation, also know as the AFI SECFAL Plan, which was unanimously supported by states at the first aviation security meeting in Senegal in 2014.

The objectives of the AFI SECFAL Plan are to enhance security and facilitation by promoting the cooperation between African states and by coordinating all related assistance efforts. "The AFI SECFAL Plan is also aimed at reaching the global average in terms of effective implementation of the critical elements of a state's aviation security oversight system and helps in addressing the prevalent terrorism threats which have a negative impact on free movement, regional integration, travel, tourism, trade and economic growth in Africa," said Djibo.

He warned, however, that in order for the AFI SECFAL Plan or any other aviation security initiative to be effective requires the political commitment of all African states at the highest level possible.

"Please be assured that, on its part, ICAO is fully committed to meeting the challenges facing aviation security and facilitation, banking on the support of the ICAO Council and its president, national, regional and international organisations, stakeholders and the industry at large," Djibo added.

From tourism… Johanna Monde (Namibia Tourism Board's Marketing Executive – Support Services) is one of the exhibitors at the aviation security and facilitation conference.

From the UK… Peter Wiehahn (left), Business Development Officer and Sir Tony Baldry, Deputy Chairman, are representing UK-based Westminster Aviation Security Services at the aviation security and facilitation conference taking place in the capital.

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