Minister of transport and logistic services inaugurates ICAN 2023

3 Dec 2023

The 15th International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation event, ICAN 2023, has begun in Riyadh, with a showcase opening ceremony and gala dinner for 700 global aviation leaders attending from more than 100 countries and organizations– a record for the event. Hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the five-day event is the world’s largest platform for countries to negotiate aviation transport arrangements.

Formally opening the event, the Kingdom’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, stated that “Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this prestigious global event reflects our desire to bring together the global aviation industry, to shape the future of aviation for the benefit of the world. We look forward to hosting global aviation leaders in the Kingdom, showcasing the unprecedented aviation opportunities being created through the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in support of Vision 2030.

The President of GACA, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, affirmed that “GACA’s hosting of this event for the second time underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to the efforts of all present and to the ICAO’s vision for the sustainable growth of the global civil aviation system. This growth is being directly supported by the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which is establishing the Kingdom as a Middle East aviation leader, with a projected $100 billion investment and the goal of accommodating 330 million passengers by 2030.

The President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano said that “Since the launch of this negotiation platform in 2008, ICAN has hosted over 5,000 bilateral meetings, resulting in close to 4,000 agreements and arrangements on behalf of 160 States and all world regions. This year we are very happy to be welcoming around 100 States and expect more than 485 meetings to be conducted

“These engagements will contribute importantly to the growth and sustainability of not only the international air transport industry, but also many other sectors with high dependency on air transport such as tourism and trade.

In addition to providing countries with a central meeting place to conduct air services negotiations and consultations, ICAN 2023 provides networking opportunities for policy makers, regulators, air operators, service providers and other stakeholders. The opening ceremony included the announcement that Malaysia will host the ICAN 2024 event, celebrated through an official handover. The event will conclude on 7th December 2023 with a celebration of International Civil Aviation Day.