TIACA at the 2nd Meeting on Air Cargo Development in Africa — Facts and Lessons, by Vladimir Zubkov

A few weeks ago, I reported to you details of the meeting between Piet Demunter, Director Strategic Development and Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo and Logistics from Brussels Airport Company, and senior International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) officials: Dr. Olumuyiva Benard Aliu, President of the ICAO Council, Boubacar Djibo, Director of Air Transport Bureau, and Regional Directors Mam Sait Jallow and Barry Kashambo (pictured, right).

I organized this meeting on the fringes of the major 2nd Meeting on Air Cargo Development in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the end of June to allow the top regulators to meet with the air cargo industry representatives and to test the ways for TIACA and ICAO to jointly work with air cargo stakeholders in the region. The objectives include: new TIACA members, networking and training opportunities, possibilities for consultancy projects, and improvement of services.

Before I come to the key points of the ICAO — BRU meeting I want to inform you that the 2nd Meeting on Air Cargo Development in Africa adopted an Action Plan on the Development of Air Cargo in Africa.

I will give a brief analysis of how this document can be used to the benefit of the air cargo industry in general.

One of the issues highlighted is the infrastructure funding and financing. And the key suggestions stem from the recognition of the importance of adequate infrastructure for air cargo connectivity. It’s to identify, secure, and implement optimal funding solutions.

We all know how difficult it is to secure financing even for important infrastructure projects. In addition, construction of the infrastructure projects is very time-consuming. Together with ICAO we looked at the possibility of more efficient utilization of the existing infrastructure, specifically at African airports.

Piet and Steven described to ICAO the “Airport Community” concept used at Brussels Airport. It doesn’t require capital investments, but does require creation of a framework for better collaboration between all the services at the airport, involved in the air cargo movement. ICAO showed noteworthy interest. The outcome of this discussion is the agreement between those who met that Brussels Airport will make an assessment of the possibilities for providing consultancy and practical assistance to African airports.

It also requires training, and this is where the Brussels and other like-minded airports can provide practical solutions. We will be working together — the TIACA Secretariat and Brussels Airport — on the development of a proposal to ICAO.

It might be useful for those who have business relationship with African organizations, involved in the air cargo industry, and to those who are considering this, to be aware of some other directions outlined in the Action Plan on the Development of Air Cargo in Africa.

Security and Facilitation

It’s encouraging to see that ICAO and the World Customs Organization (WCO) agreed to cooperate to align Regulated Agents’ and Authorized Economic Operators’ programmes to avoid duplication and provide more support to stakeholders. They are also encouraging States to submit all the information required by public authorities, in connection with arrival, stay, and departure of an aircraft and air cargo, to a single entry point (Single Window).

Furthermore, the Action Plan says that in line with MC99 Convention provisions, States should facilitate and support the introduction of electronic data submission on goods passing borders (e-freight/e-AWB). National Customs authorities should modernize its IT systems to accommodate e-freight/e-AWB initiatives.

Market Access Liberalization

The Action Plan says that States should implement the actions to: (i) liberalize market access; (ii) facilitate further liberalization of air cargo services. It also urges States to grant market access rights, including 7th freedom rights, for air cargo services.

Training

Interested parties, including ICAO, WCO, and TIACA, should organize symposia, seminars, or workshops in Africa, to sensitize States, as well as relevant international and regional organizations, on the economic benefits of enhanced connectivity for air cargo.

There are also actions planned with regards to the ownership and control, safety, charges and taxes, and additional fields for collaboration between ICAO, TIACA, and WCO.

Lessons learned from the event

All the organizations represented at the conference: ICAO, IATA, TIACA, and WCO have many areas of common interest and many common challenges. Like never before, it is apparent that these organizations must work in harmony and with the involvement of the states and regional organizations in order to bring Africa’s air cargo industry to a new level, better matching current global requirements.

The Action Plan is a good instrument which provides basis for different projects, training and consultancy initiatives, and may be truly helpful in bringing improvements and modernization into the air cargo industry in Africa.

Vladimir Zubkov
TIACA Secretary General

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA)

Written by

The International Air Cargo Association. Our next event: Air Cargo Forum 2018, October 16th-18th, Toronto, Canada. #TACF18 http://tiaca.org/

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