Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday urged the private sector to increase its investment in the air transport to make it more effective in economic growth.
He said it was important for political and business leaders to work together to boost Africa’s aviation industry.He advised the African countries also to promote inter-continental business relations and encourage regional groupings.
“African governments cannot succeed in the aviation industry without the private sector’s support. The industry needs heavy investment which the governments alone cannot manage,” he said during the opening of the 17th annual aviation and allied business leadership conference.
The conference has attracted about 200 delegates from various countries and global aviation institutions to deliberate on matters related to air transport in Africa.The continent’s aviation industry faces challenges in security, safety, investment, infrastructure and the poor participation of the private sector.
Tackling such challenges would increase tourist arrivals, he said. “We have the problem of direct connectivity between African destinations and some countries which are sources of tourism in the continent.” He cited examples of Japan and China which had no direct connection to any of the African destinations.
Some stakeholders also mentioned the brain drain as another challenge since Asian airlines were poaching African professionals.
The secretary general of the African Airlines Association, Mr Elijah Chingosho, said Middle East airlines were poaching highly experienced aviation experts, causing a shortage of professionals. “We have some aviation experts but the challenge we have today is that the Middle East airlines are increasingly taking them to their countries, leaving us with nothing.”
He also bemoaned high taxes on the industry compared with those in other transport modes suchas roads and railways.He also added that most African countries were slow in implementing the Yamoussoukro pact on liberalising Africa’s air transport.
The agreement of 1999 is said to be a landmark initiative to develop the industry through the removal of barriers.
The initiative was to have been fully implemented by August 2002 but so far some countries have made some progress towards implementing it while others are sluggish.
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