AU to launch single African air transport market

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 25 — The African Union (AU) is set to launch
the first AU Agenda 2063 flagship project, the Single African Air Transport
Market (SAATM), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the ongoing AU Summit.

The AU has been playing a key coordinating role in the establishment of
SAATM and advocacy to AU member states who have not yet committed to the
solemn commitment to do so, said AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and
Energy Amani Abou-Zeid in a statement released by the pan-African bloc on
Monday. The launch of SAATM, expected on Jan. 28, will spur more
opportunities to promote trade, cross-border investments in the production
and service industries including tourism, resulting in the creation of an
additional 300,000 direct and 2 million indirect jobs, said the
commissioner, adding that the launch of SAATM will contribute immensely to
the integration and socio-economic growth of the continent. The aviation
industry currently supports 8 million jobs in Africa and that SAATM was
created with the aim of enhancing connectivity, facilitating trade and
tourism, creating employment, and ensuring that the industry plays a more
prominent role in the global economy and significantly contributing to the
AU’s Agenda 2063, according to Abou-Zeid.As the first of the AU’s 12 Agenda
2063 flagship projects to be launched, the implementation of SAATM will
pave the way for other flagship projects like the African Passport and
enabling the Free Movement of People, the Continental Free Trade Area
(CFTA), said the commissioner.

The AU summit will also see the adoption of the regulatory text of the
Yamoussoukro Decision, which is the competition and consumer protection
regulations that safeguards the efficient operation of the market, the
commissioner added. An exhibition billed “Flying the AU Agenda 2063 for an
integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa” will be unveiled to mark the
launch, as well as the inauguration of a commemorative plaque, according to
the AU. So far, 23 African countries out of 55 have subscribed to the
Single African Air Transport Market, whereas 44 African countries have
signed the Yamoussoukro Decision, read the statement. The declaration on
the establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market was adopted by
the AU Assembly in January 2015. Immediately thereafter, 11 AU member
states declared their Solemn Commitment to establishing an SAATM through
full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999, which provides
for full liberalization of market access between African states, free
exercise of traffic rights, elimination of restrictions on ownership and
full liberalization of frequencies, fares and capacities. To date, the
number of AU member states that have adhered to the Solemn Commitment has
reached 23.

The 30th AU Summit kicked off Monday at the headquarters of the AU in
Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. Under the theme “Winning the Fight
against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation,” the
summit started with the 35th Ordinary Session of the Permanent
Representatives’ Committee of the AU from Jan. 22 to 23. The meeting will
prepare the agenda of the summit with recommendations for consideration by
the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, scheduled for Jan.
25-26.The Executive Council meeting will be followed by the 30th Ordinary
Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU from
Jan. 28 to 29. – XINHUA