The Minister of Aviation and Aero Growth, Festus Keyamo, has mentioned implementation of a Single African Air Transport Market would scale back Intra-African commerce deficit by 51 per cent.
He disclosed at a workshop on African Aviation Market Integration Single African Air Transport Market, Regulatory Framework, organised by the African Civil Aviation Fee and themed “Africa Desires to Fly” on Tuesday in Abuja.
He additionally said that the search to extend air connectivity between African nations can’t be achieved with out the involvement of the Overseas Affairs Ministry.
“Presently, intra-African commerce stands low at simply 14.4 per cent of whole African exports. Although African airways have recorded a 34.7 per cent surge in passenger visitors over the previous yr, the continent’s world passenger market share stays modest at 2.1 per cent.
“Subsequently, the Single African Air Transport Market is a no brainer in giving impetus to not simply intra-African commerce, and tourism, however SAATM would additionally scale back the continent’s commerce deficit by 51 per cent,” he asserted.
The minister burdened the necessity to eradicate obstacles inhibiting the expansion of air connectivity in Africa.
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He added that the collaboration of the international affairs ministry of all African nations would velocity up the total implementation of the Yamoussoukro Choice concerning the Liberalisation of Entry to Air Transport Markets in Africa.
He mentioned, “Effectively, let me say one thing that I believe we’ve all been lacking and if I’m flawed, let me know. Why have we not introduced international affairs ministers into the motion plan? I believe that’s what we’re lacking. I’ve not been round too lengthy, however the second I got here in, I started to establish what we have to do along with what we’ve been doing.
“In case you don’t deliver the international affairs ministers of Africa into the center of this wrestle, you’ll not obtain something. In case you perceive how governments work.
“When the heads of state are making ready for conferences within the African Union, it’s the international affairs ministers who’re there with them and never the aviation minister.”
Based on Keyamo, the international affairs minister prepares the agenda and presidents for such conferences.
“So, in order for you it to be prime of the agenda in AU, deliver the international affairs ministers into the motion plan.
“They have to be right here now. I anticipate that the international affairs ministers together with the aviation ministers ought to have been invited to this occasion and subsequent occasions from right now. We have to resolve right here right now to deliver our international affairs together with the aviation ministers into this fold. It’s this twin strategy that may make us push our agenda as shortly as doable,” he said.
Earlier in his tackle, the Director-Common of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Musa Nuhu, famous that with out a single air market, the African Continental Free Commerce Space would stay a mirage.