High Level/Ministerial Meeting on Enhancing Air Transport Connectivity and Growth in West Africa – IPADIS
West Africa has a population of over 380 million people within fifteen (15) countries, with a total landmass of 5,112,903 Sq. km, which has many historical and cultural touristic sites. The region boasts of over forty (40) international airports, relatively well-resourced air navigation service providers and good centers of aviation training.
Notwithstanding the fact that the region has a country with the largest economy in Africa, the travel and tourism industries are faced with several challenges including poor air connectivity, low passenger and cargo traffic, high aviation charges and taxes and low intra-regional tourism.
The impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic has further exacerbated the difficult position of the region when compared to other regions in the African continent. It would upend the recent modest progress in strengthening safety and security oversight systems, and the optimism expressed by States and industry on the expected positive impact of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), on-air connectivity and traffic growth and overall sustained air transport development.
There is therefore an urgent need to reimagine, revitalize and retool the aviation system in West Africa to meet present and future challenges.
The meetings’ discussions would:
- Consider the pre-COVID challenges to air transport development in the West African region.
- Identify challenges and risks that encumbered the development and implementation of solutions at national levels.
- Identify current and future impacts of Covid-19 on air connectivity; and
- Identify strategies and sectoral synergies that are required for air transport growth.
Expected Participants:
Ministers, DGs and CEOs from Aviation, Tourism, Public Health and Border Control Sectors from ECOWAS and member States.
Heads of international and regional organizations- ICAO, UNWTO, WHO, IATA, ACI, AUC, AFCAC, AFRAA, BAG, ASECNA, etc. and
Heads of civil society and media organizations: ITF, etc.
Day 1 17 March: Experts session
Meeting of Experts led by the Directors General of Civil Aviation
14h00 to 17h00 Hours GMT
10h00 to 13h00 Hours Montreal time
15h00 to 18h15 Hours, Abuja, Nigeria time
Day 2 18 March: Ministerial session
Meeting of Policy Makers led by the Ministers responsible for Civil Aviation.
14h00 to 17h00 Hours GMT
10h00 to 13h00 Hours Montreal time
15h00 to 18h15 Hours, Abuja, Nigeria time