The Sultanate, represented by the Public Authority of Civil Aviation, will participate in the 40th session of the General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The meeting will be held from September 24 to October 4, 2019, at the organization's headquarters in Montreal, Canada. The delegation of the Sultanate of Oman is headed by HE Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, the Executive President of the Public Authority of Civil Aviation. The Omani delegation participating in the meeting includes a number of officials of the Authority and the Oman Aviation Group. The regular meetings of the ICAO General Assembly are held every three years with the participation of all its Member Countries. It is also attended by delegates and observers from international and regional organizations and associations relevant to the civil aviation sector

The meeting comes to discuss many of the most important themes related to the protection of the environment from emissions, aircraft noise and climate change. It also highlights the most important achievements and activities that have been implemented since the launch of the "No country left behind" initiative in 2014. It also discussed ICAO's activities in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In addition to reviewing safety plans and everything related to the economic and regulatory aspects of airports and air navigation services. During the election of 36 States as ICAO Council members for a three-year term. HE Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, the Executive President of the Public Authority of Civil Aviation expressed his deep appreciation to ICAO for its efforts to promote the international civil aviation sector in all its fields, And its role in regulating the civil aviation sector in the world, and the great efforts and specialized work in the development of safety and security of civil aviation in all aspects associated with it.

It is worth mentioning that the strategic location of the Sultanate of Oman, which contributed to linking traffic between East and West in addition to the integrated airport infrastructure, the advanced system in the Sultanate of Oman has enabled it to play its distinguished role in the civil aviation sector. The airspace of the Sultanate is an important crossing point for the major and vital airlines in the world, which is engaged in high-density air traffic.

The Executive President said in his speech to the Council that the Sultanate has proved its readiness to deal with the changes and work for the success of emergency plans. This has earned the Sultanate more confidence and international acclaim. Thus, the Sultanate of Oman emphasized the importance of increasing regional cooperation through the unification of the visions of civil aviation institutions, and the use of resources and tools for regional aviation safety and security oversight organizations.

The Executive President added that the steady growth in the number of passengers at the airports in the Sultanate has been estimated at 15% over the last five years. The Sultanate of Oman has achieved a major leap in the rankings of the new Muscat International Airport, and the new Salalah’s Airport to be at the forefront of the best-advanced airports in the world.

HE pointed out that the wise government led by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said seeks to increase the necessary investments in civil aviation development and management projects in line with best practices. He stressed the need to increase the capacity of countries to establish links with other countries and trade partners in the sector, where investment laws have been amended to meet the highest rates of competitiveness. The Sultanate has also taken into account international developments in the areas of threats to aviation security and safety through ratification and updating of legislation related to this aspect.

HE also confirmed that the Sultanate of Oman is continuing to ratify all civil aviation agreements and protocols and to implement the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plans (GASP), Air Navigation (GANP) and Aviation Security (GASeP). The Sultanate of Oman supports all international initiatives with regard to open skies and investment policy to promote air traffic between different countries of the world, innovation in the field of civil aviation and environmental protection.

The Sultanate's delegation organized a reception to introduce the Sultanate's most important achievements in the civil aviation sector. The ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the Organization, the President of the Council and a number of Ambassadors of States and heads of delegations and specialists in civil aviation among the delegations of the participating countries, which this time set a historic precedent in the number of attendance of the General Assembly meeting of more than 3000 participants.

It is worth mentioning that the Sultanate of Oman has been a prominent member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since its accession in 1973, where it strives to participate and actively contribute with the Member States towards advancing the process of international civil aviation towards progress and prosperity, as the civil aviation sector represents an important tributary The Sultanate continues to support and host many regional and global activities and programs, and to intensify efforts towards the realization of ICAO's initiatives to achieve the highest levels Agree on them.