NAN-HE-12
Declaration
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, June 28, 2017 (NAN) The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has called for the implementation of the Lomé Declaration for the realisation of technological innovation, regulatory reform and investment in infrastructure.
A statement released by the organisation on Wednesday in Abuja revealed that the declaration is aimed at supporting air cargo growth in Africa.
According to the statement, Predient of ICAO Council, Dr Benard Aliu, made the call at the Second Meeting on Air Cargo Development in Africa, in Addis Ababa.
Aliu said the key objective of the Lomé Declaration was the unobstructed flow and rapid release of goods through enhanced trade facilitation and custom clearance frameworks.
He said the implementation of the declaration would impact on the significance of the current and forecasted contributions of air cargo to the continent’s economy.
According to him, in Africa today, aviation supports millions of jobs and 72 billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product.
“The importance of air cargo as a key enabler of international trade, is reflected in the fact that air transport carries around 35 per cent of world trade by value.
“The growth in African freight traffic outpaced the global average last year and that freight capacity offered by African carriers in the region surged by over 20 per cent in 2016,” he said.
Aliu said the progress in support of the declaration should be achieved through the ratification of the 1999 Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air.
He stated that only 56 per cent of African states have so far adhered to the convention.
He said efforts should be made toward the realisation of the ambitious ‘E-Trade for All’ initiative, being undertaken by ICAO in collaboration with other UN agencies.
The ICAO chief added that the deployment of the Cargo Service Quality Index for measuring freight performance at the airport level, a project it was developing in close collaboration with the International Air Cargo Association, should be adhered to.
“The air cargo share of items purchased online grew from 16 per cent to 74 per cent between 2010 and 2015, and is projected to reach 91 per cent by 2025.
“The number of parcels flown by air has grown from around 130 million in 2011 to around 400 million in 2015, at a staggering 30 per cent average annual growth rate,” Aliu explained.
Aliu said the progress on the Lomé Declaration implementation required enhanced investment in ground infrastructure, aircraft, and human resources.
He further said the continued growth would be predicated on a balanced approach to the liberalisation of services.
The president of the council reiterated the organisation’s readiness for continued assistance to member states through the ‘No Country Left Behind Initiative’ and with the support of its regional offices in Africa.
“ICAO will continue to play a leadership role in ensuring that air cargo’s growth benefits your continent, as well as African states, citizens, industries, trade and economies at large.
“We will continue to promote aviation’s wider role in helping your countries achieve many of the AU Agenda 2030 sustainable development goals,” he added. (NAN)
OYS/JPE/YEE
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Emmanuel Yashim
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