July 15, 2016: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and The African Union Commission (AU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for further development in African aviation.

The MoU focuses on the exchange of information, expertise and capabilities in a number of areas including: enhancing security through intelligence-driven, risk-based measures; enhancing safety; reducing accident rates in line with global levels of performance; promoting connectivity and facilitating collaborative decision making in air traffic management.

The MoU was signed by Tony Tyler, director general and CEO, IATA and Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim, commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, AU.

"Africa is set to be one of the fastest-growing aviation regions with 5 percent annual growth forecast over the next 20 years. Achieving this potential will not happen by chance; strong partnerships are key. This MoU will help ensure that global standards and best practices form the backbone of Africa’s growth as well as position the continent’s 54 nations to promote economic and social development by unleashing the full power of aviation,” said Tyler.

"IATA is a strategic partner in the growth of African aviation. This MoU will commit our two organisations to even closer cooperation on the priorities for African aviation. In particular, we count on IATA to partner with us by providing the requisite technical support in the establishment of the Single African Air Transport Market as part of our long-term vision in the context of the AU Agenda 2063,” said Ibrahim.

The industry already supports 6.8 million jobs and generates $72.5 billion of economic activity on the continent.

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