Conference of ICAO’s Director Generals for Asia and Pacific regions begins

Kathmandu, August 19:  The 56th Conference of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Director Generals for Asia and the Pacific has kicked off in Kathmandu today.

Inaugurating the Conference, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his hope that it would helpful in determining future strategy for strengthening safety, for infrastructure development and capacity enhancement in the aviation sector. He spoke the need for combined efforts to enhance quality in aviation service by adopting related advanced technology and global new innovations.

He further said Nepal remains as an attractive tourist destination in the world tourism due to its diversities and richness in culture, language, population, nature, geography and flora and fauna; and a role of the aviation sector is vital to promote touristic activities thus supporting a journey towards economic prosperity

PM Oli said that policy-level improvements, infrastructure development, use of advanced technology and service and safety strengthening in the aviation sector were the priorities of the government.

Stating that Nepal is achieving progress in the aviation safety and sector lately, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai shared that many measures are initiated to make aviation sector in the country more effective as per the criteria set by ICAO.

Expressing gratitude for handing over the ICAO President Council Certificate in recognition of the progress Nepal made in the aviation sector, Minister Bhattarai stated that works relating to reforms at policy-level were forwarded and laws would be formulated to establish the Authority as a regulatory and service-provider body.

Likewise, Authority’s Director General Rajan Pokharel expressed his confidence that such conference would further support to make Nepal’s aviation sector more credible as Nepal is steadily witnessing reforms in is the aviation sector.

ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu underscored the collective effort more quality aviation safety in Nepal by incorporating the latest aviation technology.

The Conference is attended by 390 foreign senior officials from 46 countries in the Asia Pacific. The event is organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).