Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Government is putting public infrastructure and programmes in place to help growth and investment in the aviation industry, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Monday.
"The South African government has adopted a national infrastructure plan... [which] includes the building of new rail systems, ports, fuel pipelines, and energy generation, as well as transmission infrastructure," Motlanthe said in a speech prepared for delivery.
"We are also investing in a long-term human resources development strategy which includes... a youth economic participation programme."
The country was trying to attract more young people to the aviation industry. It was also investing in research and development through maintenance, repairs, and overhauling at state-owned enterprises, such as Denel Aviation, he said.
Motlanthe was speaking at the 69th International Air Transport Association's annual general meeting and air transport summit in Cape Town.
He said all African states needed to play their part in improving aviation policy.
"It is hard to imagine that we can transform Africa's structural growth without a concomitant improvement in Africa's aviation industry.
"Indeed most of Africa's growth and development is hinged on the ability to improve intra-Africa trade and Africa's trade with the rest of the globe," said Motlanthe.
There were many opportunities for growing the African aviation industry with seven of the top 10 growing economies in the world being in the continent.
However, this growth potential could not be realised if African governments did not improve collaboration with the aviation industry.
Motlanthe said aviation was the conveyor for a significant share of tourist arrivals, trade flows and foreign direct investment, and foreign exchange earnings.
"South Africa, as a long-haul destination at the southern tip of Africa, is all too aware of the important role of the aviation industry as a conduit for realising our national development objectives."
The country registered 9.2 million international tourist arrivals last year.
Motlanthe said South Africa was conscious of the difficult economic climate airlines were operating under.
The Air Traffic Navigation Service would continue to implement measures to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
"Among these wide-ranging measures, they will be implementing improved safety protocols and installing advanced network communication tools, thus allowing for more effective communication and flight safety operations," he said.
South Africa was also supporting the Upper Airspace Control Centre, which would result in seamless operations for airlines in the Southern African Development Community region.
