AfDB to Embark Upon Developing Africa’s Air Transportation to Strengthen Regional Integration
21 September 2012
A high-level delegation from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) visited the African Development Bank Group on September 18 in Tunis to share industry knowledge and lessons learned that may help revolutionize aviation in Africa. The workshop entitled “Developing Africa’s Air Transportation” was chaired by Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa, Director of Development Research, and Tas Anvaripour, Manager for Infrastructure Finance in the Private Sector Department of the African Development Bank. The meeting also brought together senior representatives and sponsors of major aircraft companies, including Embraer – the world’s third largest manufacturer of aircraft and the leading brand of regional jets – and Aldus Aviation – an aircraft leasing company that proposes setting up operations in Africa.
The occasion marked the first step in the implementation of an MOU of Collaboration signed by AfDB’s President Donald Kaberuka with BNDES within the context of Rio+20 last June.
Speaking on the occasion, Embraer’s Vice-President for the Middle East and Africa, Mathieu Duquesnoy, affirmed that “with only 30 per cent of Africa’s air transport routes subject to competition, the potential for growth and lower airfares across the continent is very significant. Regional aircraft can help spur competition, by adding to the competitiveness of African airlines.”
Read the complete article on the AfDB website...
Category: Transport