Kenya is host of the 11th ICAO Air Service Negotiation (ICAN) event which will hold from 10th to 14th December 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) states: “Kenya is ready to host the 2018 ICAO Air Service Negotiation and we welcome all delegates to Nairobi City and the home of the 8th World Wonder. This is the second time the event will be held in Africa, and the first time in East and Central Africa. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, led by its President, Dr. Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, will be in attendance at the opening ceremony on 14th December 2018.”
CS James Macharia, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, says: “ICAN 2018 provides a tremendous opportunity for Kenya’s integration into the global air transport network and a ton of possibilities for the Kenyan economic growth and development agenda.”
He adds: “Air services negotiations that will happen during ICAN 2018 will open up foreign markets to Kenyan exports which have benefits through lowering transport costs, particularly over long distance and facilitate increased competition.”
Capt. Gilbert Kibe, Director General, KCAA, says: “We are honoured and indeed it is a proud moment for us to host one of the biggest global aviation events. ICAN has been highly commended by participating delegations as an efficient platform for conducting air service negotiations. Since its inception, more than a total of 142 States have participated in and benefited from ICAN at least once.”
“The aviation sector supports 46,000 jobs in Kenya. 13,000 jobs directly supported by the aviation sector, 17,000 jobs indirectly through the aviation sectors supply chain; and 16,000 jobs through the spending by the employees of the aviation sector and its supply chain”
ICAN 2018 is anticipated to host about 800 delegates from around the world, bringing together States’ delegates and key stakeholders in the aviation industry. Over 74 delegations have already confirmed participation in the upcoming negotiations.
“We’ll be working with various countries & industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards & Recommended Practices (SARPs) & policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable & environmentally responsible civil aviation sector,” KCAA states.
ICAN is an annual global aviation event convened by ICAO since 2008 with the aim of providing meeting facilities for States to conduct multiple bilateral, regional or pluri-lateral air services negotiations in a single location.