Kingdom wins ICAO Council elections

Riyadh 28 September 2019

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won in the elections of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the 40^th General Assembly meeting, where the Kingdom achieved a big victory in the nominations for permanent membership in the Council of the Organization along with the 36 permanent members of the Council.

The Minister of Transport and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Dr. Nabil Al Amoudi said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's win reflects the appreciation of the member states of the World Organization for the importance of the Kingdom's positive role and efforts in dealing with the air transport industry.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulhadi Al Mansouri, President of the GACA, said that the Kingdom has been winning successive terms since 1986 and until now in the elections, which is held every three years.

He went on to say, that this successive wins clearly reflects the prestigious international status enjoyed by the Kingdom in international forums related to civil aviation, especially the (ICAO).   He also pointed out that the Kingdom has never been late in providing support to programs and plans of the (ICAO).  Furthermore, he mentioned the participation of Saudi experts in the organization’s committees and work teams.  He went on to say that, the Kingdom hosts the permanent headquarters of the Regional Safety Oversight Organization for the Middle East and North Africa region of the ICAO.  This in addition to hosting and financing the permanent headquarters of the Regional Safety Oversight Organization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA RSOO) and the Cooperative Aviation Security Program – Middle East (CASP-MID).

His Excellency pointed out what the Kingdom has provided in the field of environmental protection, as it is one of the first countries to announce that it has voluntarily joined the Global Compensation and Reduction Plan for International Aviation. The Kingdom has also worked on an ambitious project in cooperation with all relevant authorities; particularly Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) Program, which ICAO is developing conventional aviation fuel to reach “low-carbon aviation fuel”.

The Kingdom has participated in the meetings of the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with a delegation headed by the Minister of Transport and Chairman of GACA, accompanied by the President of GACA and a number of officials of GACA officials. The Kingdom also played an active role in supporting the work of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through the provision of Saudi experts working in the General Secretariat of the Organization and the Kingdom bears all costs in the field of air navigation and aviation security and international legal affairs of the Organization.

On the other hand, the Minister of Transport, Chairman of GACA, accompanied by the President of GACA visited the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu in his office at the headquarters of the Organization in the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the Council of ICAO. Mr. Saud Hashem. The two sides discussed ways to develop the work in the Organization and the efforts exerted by the Kingdom to serve (ICAO).

The two sides discussed the opening of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport, as well as the Kingdom's decision to facilitate the granting of visas to a large number of countries. Moreover, the Kingdom's adoption of a sophisticated tourist plan in light of its historic richness of ancient civilizations.

At the end of the visit, the President thanked the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continued support to the Organization and appreciated its interest in the activities carried out by ICAO.

It is worth noting that the 40th session of the General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will be held during the period (24 September - 4 October 2019) in Montreal, Canada, with the participation of more than 193 countries, and is one of the specialized organizations of the United Nations and the International Civil Aviation Forum.

The Organization promotes the air transport industry as a major driver of the global economy and aims to develop technical principles and rules relating to international air navigation, support the planning and development of international air transport, and promote the advancement of air routes, airports and air navigation facilities for international civil aviation.