(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Aviation in Africa currently supports more than 6.9 million jobs and over $800 billion in GDP across African nations.
Dubai — Aviation Africa 2015 which opens tomorrow in Dubai will underscore the immense potential of the African aviation market.
The two-day event held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Chairman of Emirates Airline and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group has been established to forge a crucial dialogue among the aviation industry’s leading stakeholders on the social economic and political benefits to be gained from wide-ranging improvements to the infrastructure in Africa.
Aviation in Africa currently supports more than 6.9 million jobs and over $800 billion in GDP across African nations. But this is nothing compared with what it can become. Annually a further 155000 jobs and $1.3 billion in GDP can be added through the effective liberalisation of just 12 key markets including Ghana Kenya and South Africa among others according to an independent report published by the International Air Transport Association.
“If you look at the sheer potential of just a handful of African airlines routes and airports you realise just how enormous an impact Africa can have on the future of aviation and moreover you can clearly see just how beneficial a progressive aviation industry can be for the socio-economic future of the continent” said Alan Peaford event organiser and summit chairman. “Geographically it’s ideally located right next to well-established hubs in the Gulf and is able to capitalise on the passenger and cargo traffic already streaming through the region.”
“Aviation Africa 2015 will fill a void in the aviation calendar and give Africa a real chance to progress quickly effectively and safely” he added.
Africa’s prospective growth as well as the potentially vital role the Middle East’s aviation industry can play in the creation of a burgeoning African market will be the focal point of the various case studies and panels at Aviation Africa 2015.
Dzifa Aku Attivor Minister of Transport for Ghana will present the keynote address.
“There are many striking similarities between the Middle Eastern aviation market of 20 years ago and the African market of today” said Peaford. “The many experiences Gulf carriers airports and regulators underwent as they grew to become the centre-ground of the global aviation space are bound to be similar to the issues that will arise in Africa as the continent’s nations begin to put their efforts and resources behind their aviation industry. Africa would do well to discuss listen and learn from their Middle Eastern counterparts.”
Discussing the role of regulators at Aviation Africa 2015 will be Laila Ali Hareb Al Muhairi assistant director-general for strategy and international affairs at the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority; Dr Hamdi Chaouk former director-general for aviation in Lebanon; Abdulai Alhassan director-general of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority; and Mohamed Rahma Egypt’s undersecretary for international affairs.
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