Page 10 - Official Report of the 4th CASSOA _Sympossium.ai

Opening remarks

incident investigation, search and rescue centers and
safety management system that will make the region
civil aviation operations safer. He noted that the EAC He noted that the EAC appreciates
appreciates CASSOA’s role in harmonizing regulations CASSOA’s role in harmonizing
and its initiatives to support South Sudan in its integra- regulations and its initiatives to
tion in civil aviation projects and programmes. support South Sudan in its inte-
gration in civil aviation projects
He indicated that the 4th EAC Heads of State retreat on and programmes.
Infrastructure scheduled for 21st – 22nd February in
Kampala will be receiving a report on the civil aviation
projects and programmes aimed at improving safety
and security in the region and reiterated that the EAC
secretariat will support the implementation of the
symposium’s recommendations.

7

Prof. Paul Maringa, Principal Secretary Ministry of To provide the partner states with an appropriate
Transport & Infrastructure, Kenya delivered the speech forum and structure to discuss, plan and implement
on behalf of the CS Transport James Macharia. He common measures required for achieving the safe and
appreciated CASSOA for choosing Nairobi to host the orderly development of international civil aviation. To
4th Symposium, ever since the 1st Symposium held in develop and Implement a Visibility Strategy that clearly
Arusha in 2009, 2nd in Entebbe in 2013 and 3rd in Kigali demonstrates benefits arising out of CASSOA activities
in 2014. He commended CASSOA’s task in collaboration
and harmonizing regulations in the region, noting that To promote a collaborative approach among Aviation
aviation acts as a catalyst of economic growth and Industry Stakeholders in achieving Aviation Safety.
reiterated on the need to address the challenge of
making aviation services to be more affordable to the He further highlighted that EAC CASSOA’s mandate as
common citizen across the region. per article 92 of the EAC Treaty that includes its role in
harmonizing civil aviation regulations including imple-
He encouraged the region can benefit under the ICAO’s menting regional projects including a regional aircraft
‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative by ensuring that accident and investigation agency, search & rescue
CASSOA’s collaborative approach assists all member coordination centers and the Unified Upper Flight Infor-
states to meet ICAO’s Standards and Recommended mation Region. He indicated that the harmonization of
Practices. He noted that by the symposium bringing regulations will lead to the collaboration required in
together aircraft manufacturers, regulators and opera- transitioning the region from a fully protected market to
tors their collaboration will lead to meaningful benefits. liberalized market.

He further outlined that the objectives of the 4th He noted that the EAC region with a population of 158M
Symposium are : and a combined GDP of USD.169.5B is a powerful
economic block with potential to transform lives and
To promote the safe, secure and efficient use and that the giant should not be allowed to sleep forever. He
development of civil aviation within and outside the indicated since Kenya was recently certified as CAT 1 by
EAC Partner States. the FAA with direct flights from Nairobi to the USA due

Official report of the 4th East African Community - CASSOA Sympossium 2018 10