MANAMA: Cargo business is facing potential risks amid travel growth globally, according to Minister of Transport and Economic Development Board (EDB) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed.
“We clearly realize the risks confronting air cargo and its future challenges amid growth in travel and product movement,” the Minister told the audience in his welcome remarks.
He stressed on the efforts to create a balance between air cargo security and facilitation to protect security and fast achievements through two basic dimensions; importance of human resources and their training.
He highlighted the importance of training in enhancing efficiency of human resources.
“We have worked with the ICAO to accredit the Gulf Aviation Academy to be a regional training center as it implements a plan to train 100 trainees annually to enhance security procedures in the national and regional levels. In the regulative aspect a new civil aviation law was issued in 2003 to reinforce civil aviation and air safety,” he said.
The Second ICAO and WCO Joint Conference on Enhancing Air Cargo Security and Facilitation was opened in Bahrain under the patronage of Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.
Organized by the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Transportation Ministry and Customs Affairs, the event was attended by the General Secretary of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Raymond Benjamin, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary-General Kunio Mikuriya and General Director of the Universal Postal Union (UPO) Bashar Abdurahman Hussein.
The joint ICAO-WCO conference attracted 300 participants from 45 countries.
He welcomed the guests and participants from brotherly and friendly countries and concerned organizations in the air cargo and its safety and security, especially the ICAO and WCO that offer distinguished international services and work to develop air cargo and customs services.
He expressed his thanks and appreciation for choosing Bahrain to host the second conference that aims to enhance security and facilitation of air cargo in facing future challenges.
Lt. Gen Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa asserted that civil aviation security is a major international responsibility that starts from airplane-manufacturing technology to the precise regulative procedures for flights to transport travelers and cargos.
He added that through ongoing efforts and expertise have been accumulated by international aviation affairs organizations.
He highlighted the development of security challenges of international aviation for a number of reasons, mainly the development and generalization of technology use, in addition to disputes, chaos, extremism and terrorisms, which made coordination and cooperation between civil aviation systems and security authorities a must.
“The achievement of the contemporary concept of security should focus on plans that are based on scientific methods and modern technology, especially in civil aviation security to facilitate travel procedures and movements at airports without affecting any security standard, with security concept that focuses on achieving the targeted security through cooperation in the national, regional and international levels,” he said.
He highlighted commitment to international standards and cooperation with all concerned bodies to continue in providing services for the development of civil aviation sector and its protection from any threat. He expressed his confidence that the presented papers in the conference by experts and specialists aim to determine standards that guarantee the correct procedures in accordance to a future vision for all current and expected challenges.
He thanked the ICAO and WCO for their cooperation in holding this conference in Bahrain that show the country’s position in civil aviation field.
He concluded by highlighted that the first commercial civil airplane that landed in Bahrain was in 1927 when Bahrain’s land and air were part of routes that linked countries and continents.
General Secretary of the ICAO delivered a speech, in which he offered special thanks to Bahrain for organizing the event.
He said that world events in recent years have demonstrated the importance of collaboration between security authorities at the state level and across international borders. He highlighted the constant need to join forces to assure that international transportation and trade are supported by all necessary and appropriate security and facilitation measures.
The General Secretary of the WCO also delivered a speech, in which he highlighted that the WCO includes 179 members that work together to achieve security and facilitation of customs work through setting standards and support of international cooperation, in addition to offer assistance to the members.
He said that the customs sectors are important tools for economic competitive, hence in December 2013 a new WCO agreement was enforced to facilitate trade that includes facilities through borders. He stressed the importance of the conference as an opportunity to develop procedures to facilitate economic competitiveness that is based on security standards and the discussion of future requirements. The minister inaugurated an exhibition that is being held on the sidelines of the ICAO and WCO Joint Conference. The exhibition showcases services to reinforce air cargo security by airline and cargo companies.