The Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said the aviation industry is crucial for socio-economic development of the African continent.
Speaking at a press briefing here today, ICAO President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said “no continent, no country can develop without civil aviation.”
He said ICAO focuses on assisting the development of aviation in the continent and to have also access to the socio-economic benefits that aviation supports.
The President added that a lot of work needs to be done in Africa on a number of issues in general and safety in aviation in particular.
ICAO has a program on African implementation plan for aviation safety in Africa specifically targeted at African states, he stated.
According to Aliu, ICAO is also supporting training by providing organizations like Ethiopian Aviation Academy which is identified as a center of excellence for training.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam said on his part aviation is critical and essential for public transport service, especially in the continent where the others modes of transport are underdeveloped.
He pointed out that air cargo is the most important and enabler for the socio-economic development in the world in general and the development in the African continent in particular.
Its development in the continent is very important mainly because most of the African countries export agricultural and horticultural products which are by and large the main African exports. (ENA)