Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, received today, at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Mr. Juan Carlos Salasar, Secretary General of the Organization, in the presence of Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Mohamed Khalifa Rahma, Head of the Air Transport Sector at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Mr. Mohamed Abu Bakr Fareh, Regional Director of the Organization’s Cairo Office.
The Prime Minister began the meeting by welcoming both the President of the ICAO Council and the Secretary-General of the organization, praising their current visit to Egypt, saying: “I was pleased to meet Mr. Salvatore, President of the ICAO Council, on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit hosted by Egypt in 2022.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly told the organization’s officials: I am pleased to welcome you here today in Egypt, and I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to you on the occasion of the celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the signing of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Convention in Chicago since December 7, 1944.
He added: I hope you enjoyed your visit to Egypt, and your tours, whether to the Great Pyramids or to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which reflects the greatness of Egypt, the cradle of civilizations.
The Prime Minister praised the current visit of ICAO officials to Egypt to participate in the opening ceremony of the organization’s regional headquarters in the Middle East region in Egypt after its renovation was completed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly confirmed Egypt’s continued support For the organization, and for multilateral work in general, saying that Egypt’s hosting of the organization’s regional headquarters, which dates back to 1953, reflects the depth and strength of Egypt’s relations with the international organization.
The Prime Minister praised the pivotal role played by the organization in facilitating air transport and promoting sustainable economic and social development around the world through the continuous improvement of the safety and security of international civil aviation, which is in line with the Egyptian state’s vision 2030.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly referred to the constructive role played by Egypt in developing civil aviation in the Middle East and Africa region as an international aviation center and a very important regional hub, highlighting Egypt’s strategic location as a link between 3 continents.
He also pointed out that the Egyptian government is making strenuous efforts to improve the aviation security and safety system by developing systems and regulations related to aviation safety, and activating various recommendations issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization in this regard, in addition to our ongoing efforts to develop aviation infrastructure, including the renovation and development of various civil airports.
He expressed Egypt’s aspiration to enhance the fruitful cooperation already existing with the organization to achieve common goals in upgrading the civil aviation sector and enhancing sustainability and safety, referring to Egypt’s efforts in training and qualifying human cadres in the aviation sector, most notably the Egyptian Academy of Aviation Sciences, and expressing Egypt’s aspiration to enhance cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization to continue developing joint training programs.
He also expressed his appreciation for the support of the UN organization’s officials to the Egyptian members of the ICAO Secretariat.
In turn, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, expressed his appreciation for this important visit by the President of the ICAO Council and the Secretary-General of the organization.
Al-Hafni said that Egypt is proud to host the ICAO regional office for more than seven decades, noting that Egypt appreciates the vital role played by the organization in supporting various areas of air transport, praising the tangible and prominent efforts provided by ICAO, as well as the effective initiatives it adopts in order to provide the best ways and practices in developing the international civil aviation industry in a way that contributes to enhancing air safety, developing air connectivity, and creating sustainable growth for this industry around the world, in a way that achieves regional and international cooperation.
The Minister stressed that the Egyptian civil aviation sector spares no effort in providing various means of support to the ICAO office in a way that contributes to achieving the strategic goals of the organization and serves the interests of all member states and the entire Middle East region.
For their part, ICAO officials expressed their happiness for their current visit to Egypt to open the organization’s regional office in Egypt, expressing their appreciation for the great support provided by the Egyptian state to the organization since the opening of its office in Egypt, adding: We are proud to have our regional office here in Cairo.
The organization’s officials pointed out that Egypt plays a major role in ICAO’s efforts to achieve civil aviation safety and security in the Middle East region amidst the many challenges the organization has faced over the past period.
Meanwhile, the organization’s officials touched on their efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the civil aviation sector globally, expressing their aspiration for further cooperation with the Egyptian government in this regard.
