Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Burundi Times
Published on 2024-03-25 08:53:00
The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) aims to promote economic growth and development in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean region by enhancing air connectivity and reducing travel costs. However, only fourteen out of the 29 countries in the region have acceded to the SAATM, limiting its potential impact.
The importance of the SAATM was emphasized during a national awareness workshop held in Kampala, Uganda. The workshop sought to create awareness of the benefits of the SAATM and the need for enabling legal and institutional frameworks to operationalize the market. Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, highlighted the importance of infrastructure, institutions, and procedures in ensuring safe and efficient air transport systems.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of air transport was underscored as international air cargo operations played a crucial role in maintaining supply chains and distributing pharmaceutical products efficiently. This experience highlighted the importance of a vibrant air transport sector and the need for a liberalized intra-African air transport market.
Uganda, through its Ministry of Works and Transport, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, and the Uganda National Airline, expressed its commitment to adopting the SAATM project. The country is ready to present a Cabinet Paper on the benefits of SAATM to the national aviation industry.
Secretary General of COMESA, Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, emphasized the role of air transport as a catalyst for tourism, trade, and industrialization in the region. The SAATM is being implemented under an eight million euros, four-year program on the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) funded by the European Union. The program covers four Regional Economic Communities (RECs): East Africa Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), with COMESA serving as the lead REC.
In conclusion, the SAATM has the potential to significantly impact the economic development and connectivity of the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean region. Increased participation and commitment from countries within the region are crucial to realizing the full benefits of the SAATM and promoting a more liberalized and efficient air transport market in Africa.
Read the original article on Burundi Times
