New Delhi, India / September 2024 – Samoa has reiterated its dedication to enhancing connectivity and fostering development within the Asia and Pacific communities by committing to the New Delhi Declaration at the 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation held earlier this month.
The two-day conference ended with Indian Prime Minister Honorable Narendra Modi announcing unanimous passing of the Delhi Declaration.
Samoa was represented by Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (MWTI) Associate Minister, Afioga Niuava Eti Malolo, and Director of Civil Aviation/ACEO MWTI, Afioga Lauano Yvonne Talaitupu Mariner-Viliamu.
The New Delhi Declaration underscores Samoa’s unwavering support for continued partnership and collaboration in the realm of civil aviation. This commitment follows the first Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in 2018, held in China, which concluded with the Beijing Declaration. The Beijing Declaration set the foundation for States to work together to achieve shared commitments and take necessary actions to collectively address the challenges faced by the aviation sector.
While some of the commitments outlined in the Beijing Declaration have seen satisfactory progress, most targets related to safety and air navigation have not met expectations. The shortfall is primarily due to the pandemic, which plunged the global civil aviation sector into a severe crisis.
The Conference marked an important advancement by Civil Aviation Ministers of the Asia Pacific States, aiming to address the increasing demand for air travel and to concentrate on the future development and infrastructure of airports amidst rapid airline growth. The commitment from the Asia Pacific Region to foster collaboration on a unified platform to orchestrate regional aviation growth is embodied in the Delhi Declaration, which replaces the Beijing Declaration.
The high-level gathering brought together approximately 250 representatives from 41 countries.
About Samoa’s Commitment
Samoa remains devoted to supporting and partnering with other nations to enhance connectivity and foster development within the Asia and Pacific region. By endorsing the New Delhi Declaration, Samoa reaffirms its commitment to working collaboratively with regional partners to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic and to build a stronger, safer, and more dynamic aviation sector.
Speaking at the Ministerial event, MWTI Associate Minister, Afioga Niuava highlighted Samoa’s efforts in advancing aviation security in our country. He also acknowledged the unwavering support of our Asia and Pacific neighbors, which have been instrumental in Samoa’s recovery following the Measles Epidemic in 2019 and COVID-19 global pandemic.
