The second ministerial conference on civil aviation in the Asia-Pacific region concluded on Thursday with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration. The two-day conference organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at Bharat Mandapam ended with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the unanimous approval of the Delhi Declaration.
The conference included delegates from ministers and policymakers from 29 countries, and from eight international organizations, including ICAO as part of the conference. A major milestone of the conference was the formal adoption of the Delhi Declaration, a comprehensive framework aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, addressing emerging challenges and promoting sustainable growth within the civil aviation sector.
The Prime Minister shared India’s technological and infrastructural progress in the sector with top civil aviation leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. Emphasizing on making the sector more inclusive for women, the Prime Minister said, “In India, 15 percent of pilots are women, which is more than the global average of 5 percent, and we have issued an advisory to further this number to increase. .”
The Prime Minister also spoke about the transformation in India’s aviation sector over the past decade and said that India has gone from being exclusive to aviation to becoming aviation inclusive. Highlighting the crucial role of the civil aviation sector, he said the focus is on connecting people, culture and prosperity through the sector.
The Prime Minister said that if we could connect all the sacred sites related to Lord Buddha across Asia and create an ‘International Buddhist Circuit’, it would benefit the civil aviation sector, the travelers, related
countries and their economies.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in his welcome address said: “The Prime Minister’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability is clear, with initiatives like ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ campaign and planting 80,000 saplings to mark 80 years of the ICAO. Under his visionary leadership, India plans to achieve its goal of having 350 to 400 airports by 2047, making the country a major player in global aviation. Today, India not only supports but also leads collaborative efforts, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. By delivering vaccines across Asia and the Pacific, India has continued its commitment to ‘One World, One Planet, One Future, One Family’ strengthened.’
Salvatore, President of the ICAO Council, said in his speech: “Our primary focus is to continue to pursue high levels of safety and security. We must remain focused on improving these fundamental aspects of aviation, and not allow ourselves to become complacent when we reflect on the very positive statistics.”
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in his participation at the conference noted, “It is encouraging to be part of the deliberations on the crucial aspects of aviation ranging from aviation safety to air navigation and from security to green aviation.”
Vamlunmang Vualnam, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, emphasized that a collaborative approach with all stakeholders, from top civil aviation leaders to international organizations and startups, can only pave a robust path forward.
Day 2 of the conference featured several key highlights, including a presentation by ICAO on the establishment of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Liaison Office, aimed at supporting smaller countries in addressing aviation challenges.
The draft of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Civil Aviation (the Delhi Declaration) was presented and discussed, followed by its formal adoption following ministerial deliberations. In addition, a ceremony was organized to commemorate the 80th anniversary of ICAO and the Chicago Convention, further highlighting the organization’s role in shaping international aviation standards over the past eighty decades.
