Cabo Verde took up the three-year chair of the Community of Lusophone Civil Aviation Authorities (CAACL), replacing Angola that had the helm of this organisation from 2020-2023.
The handover of the portfolios took place during the 13th CAACL Meeting held in Luanda under the motto “Together for the best operational safety practices”.
The Angolan Transport minister, Ricardo D’Abreu, recalled that Angola led the community in a context “so difficult and challenging”, marked by the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which damaged industries and the lives of citizens, with devastating human, economic and financial losses.
Despite this adverse context, the minister considered that all CAACL members were resilient and able to hold several bilateral meetings, sign important cooperation protocols and exchange experiences in different areas of the aviation sector, complying with the principles and objectives that guide this body.
Even in the face of the difficult scenario, the minister added that it was possible to guarantee the implementation of a set of structural reforms in Angola, which placed the country in a completely different condition from the period in which it assumed the presidency of the body in 2020.
Among the country’s achievements, the minister highlighted the new Civil Aviation Law in force, the creation of the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), an independent administrative entity that regulates, supervises and oversees the civil aviation system in Angola.
He also pointed to the realisation of the Universal Audit of the Operational Safety of the Angolan Civil Aviation System, achieved practically 15 years after its process began.
According to the minister, the evaluation of this audit by the international regulator was positive, which confirmed the assertiveness of the measures and reforms implemented in the country.
In addition, the minister recalled that, in the last two years, Angola signed several agreements, memos and cooperation and technical assistance between member states.
Ricardo d’Abreu called on all members to make a more effective contribution to strengthening the socio-economic growth of member countries over the next five years, one of the challenges that falls within the goals set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
The Angolan minister also highlighted the urgency of working together to achieve technological transition, one of the key factors for the decarbonisation of air transport, a goal that can be achieved by strengthening regulatory capacities and increasing safety cooperation between countries.
The event brought together 243 participants of the civil aviation industry of the Portuguese Speaking member countries, diplomatic entities, among other personalities.
CAACL is a forum for reflection, discussion and consultation for the Civil Aviation sector, aimed at creating the conditions for broad cooperation between the parties on all matters related to their duties.
The organization is made up by Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial, Guinea, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal and Brazil.
Source: Angola Press News Agency