41st ICAO Assembly: Cameroon's oral statement on the menu
Published: Sunday, 02 October 2022 04:04
The Minister of Transport, Mr. Jean Ernest Massena NGALLE BIBEHE, spoke on behalf of Cameroon on October 1, 2022, in an oral statement he made at the plenary session alongside other delegations present at the proceedings in Montreal.
After praising the legendary hospitality extended to the Cameroonian delegation in Canada, he warmly congratulated the President of this 41st session for her brilliant election. He then wished that this assembly would lead to fruitful resolutions for the future of civil aviation.
He recalled the period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the aviation industry. And despite the difficulties, our sector remained resilient and played a key role in maintaining the supply chain.
About the outlook, the Minister of Transport mentioned that Cameroon's ambition is to have a modern, competitive and sustainable air transport system that will serve the country's economic and social development. An outlook that is reflected in the inclusion of civil aviation development among the strategies for growth, particularly through the modernization of Cameroon's infrastructure and investments in the areas of safety, security, facilitation, and the environment.
Speaking within the framework of the continuous improvement of safety and security, he said the State is continuing its program of upgrading and modernizing airport infrastructures. The efforts made to date have led to the award of a class’ A’ certificate to the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport. The experience acquired in the certification process of this airport will be capitalized in the certification of other airport platforms.
In terms of security and facilitation, he revealed that Cameroon joined the ICAO Public Key Directory in June 2022, which allows it to access travelers' data and facilitate border crossing procedures at airports.
On environmental protection, he said Cameroon takes note of the conclusions of the High-Level Meeting on the feasibility of an ambitious long-term goal for reducing CO2 emissions from international aviation and insists on the need to take into account the particular situation of each State, including its potential for aviation development, to contribute to the goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050.
According to the minister, achieving the foregone operational objectives would require available, sufficient, competent human resources in the various aviation professions. Hence priority is given to the development of skills, a pillar of the air transport development strategy. Also, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority Training School is participating in regional efforts to upgrade the skills of civil aviation personnel.
Finally, the minister solicited the valuable support of all Member States and wished this 41st session of the ICAO Assembly success in bringing about significant progress in civil aviation.
Following the statements by the different States, the work of the Executive Committee and the Economic Committee continued.
The elections of Council members for Parts 1 and 2 took place on October 1, 2022, and elections for Part 3 are scheduled for October 4, 2022.