THE Papua New Guinea Civil Aviation Authority for the first time hosted the Pacific Regional Aviation Ministers Meet (RAMM) in Port Moresby recently.
The regional ministers meeting is a strategic opportunity for forum island member states to discuss wide ranging needs in the region such as safety and sustainability.
The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the regional collaboration in the Pacific surrounding the aviation industry.
In a joint press conference by Minister for Civil Aviation Sekie Agisa and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure William Samb, Aviation and Transport sectors are two key contributors to the economy of a nation.
Minister Samb said the meeting is historical in a sense that it is the first time PNG has hosted a Pacific Island Aviation Ministers Meeting plus the technology used in making the conference possible.
The Regional Aviation Ministers Meeting is a product of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders discussions which was last held in Tuvalu in 2019.
“The meeting was aimed at discussing policies and strategies’ that will improve the affected aviation industry in the Pacific Region plus other industries that are associated with the industry,” said Minister Samb.
Minister Samb said the meeting has enabled them to identify and discuss two key issues which is a Treaty” for connectivity in the Pacific thus see how best they can connect the island states and enhance a way forward for the aviation industry during this time of the pandemic.
“The Covid-19 Pandemic can be seen as a blessing in disguise as it has affected so many things involving the aviation and transport sector.”
Minister Samb said, one other agenda raised during the conference was enhancing the Tourism Sector in the Pacific Islands which is connected by sea however aviation plays a major role in building tourism and economy in a country.
On the other hand, Minister Agisa said, Aviation is vital to many industries particularly tourism and trade and it is important for employment growth, productivity and development.
Minister Agisa also said, COVID-19 had extremely impacted the aviation safety and security and with the collaboration of the forum ministers the aviation will continue to respond and recover from the COVID.
“We are aimed at rebuilding the tourism and trade industries not only in PNG but other Pacific Island nations as well.
The next RAMM will be hosted in Cook Islands in 2022.