By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, SEP 13, 2024: THE 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation concluded yesterday with the adoption of Delhi Declaration. The two-day conference ended with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing unanimous passing of the Delhi Declaration.

The 2 day conference saw the participation of delegates from 29 Countries Ministers and Policy Makers, and 8 International Organizations including ICAO which celebrated its 80 years of operations as part of the conference.  Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), successfully hosted the conference at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 11th to 12th September. This high-level gathering has brought together ministers, heads of civil aviation authorities, and key stakeholders to address the current challenges and unlock more opportunities in the region.

The conference witnessed engaging discussions and presentations focused on shaping the future of aviation in the Asia Pacific region. A significant milestone of the conference has been the formal adoption of the Delhi Declaration, a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, addressing emerging challenges, and fostering sustainable growth within the civil aviation sector.

Prime Minister shared the technological and infrastructural advancements made by India in the sector with the top civil aviation leaders of the Asia-pacific region. Prime Minister emphasized on making the sector more inclusive for women, he said, "In India, 15% of the pilots are women which is more than the global average of 5% and we have issued an advisory to further increase this number."

Prime Minister also spoke about the transformation in the aviation sector in India in the last ten years and said from being aviation exclusive, India has become aviation inclusive. Highlighting the crucial role of the civil aviation sector, he said focus is on connecting people, culture and prosperity through the sector.

Prime Minister said that if we could connect all the holy places related to Lord Buddha across Asia and create an 'International Buddhist Circuit', it will benefit the civil aviation sector, the travellers, related countries and their economies as well.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in his welcome address stated, "The Hon'ble Prime Minister's commitment to inclusivity and sustainability is evident, with initiatives like the 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' campaign and the planting of 80 thousand saplings to commemorate ICAO's 80 years. Under his visionary leadership, India is set to achieve its goal of having 350-400 airports by 2047, positioning the nation as a key player in global aviation. Today, India not only supports but leads collaborative efforts, as exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. By delivering vaccines across Asia and the Pacific, India reinforced its commitment to 'One World, One Planet, One Future, One Family.'"

Mr. Salvatore, President of Council of ICAO in his address expressed, "Our primary focus is to continue to pursue high levels of safety and security. We must remain focused on enhancing these fundamental aspects of aviation, not allowing ourselves to become complacent when we consider the very positive statistics."

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol in his participation at the conference remarked, "It is heartening to be part of deliberations on the crucial aspects of aviation ranging from aviation safety to air navigation and from security to green aviation."

Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, highlighted that a collaborative approach with all the stakeholders right from top civil aviation leaders to international organizations and startups can only lay a robust path ahead.

Day 2 of the conference has been marked by several key highlights, including a presentation by ICAO on the establishment of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Liaison Office, aimed at supporting smaller nations in addressing aviation challenges. The Draft Asia Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Civil Aviation (Delhi Declaration) was presented and discussed, followed by its formal adoption after ministerial deliberations. Additionally, a ceremony was organized to commemorate the 80th anniversary of ICAO and the Chicago Convention, further highlighting the organization's role in shaping international aviation standards over the past eight decades.