Abdul Wahab Teffaha addresses the AACO AGM

The 45th Arab Carriers Organisation (AACO) Annual General Meeting (AGM)is under way in the Algerian capital Algiers.

AACO AGM returns to Algeria for the second time in its history.

Opening the ceremony, Abdul Wahab Teffaha, secretary general said: 'There is no doubt that the interval between the first AGM held here in 1975 and this one is very wide.'

Teffaha went on to say: 'The Arab air transport contributes by more than 100 billion US Dollars to the Arab economy. This contribution does not present the revenues of Arab airlines; it is rather the added value of the economic multiplier of the industery in all economic sectors. The air transport sector plays a pivotal role in moving people to, from and within Arab countries given the vast geography of the Arab world. In addtion, this sector plays an essential rolein moving high value and perishable goods while supporting around three million jobs along its supply chainwhich cannot exist without an effective air transport sector. Therefore, ensuring the growth and sustainabilty of this sector in generating its added value is a vital issue for all countries, especially the Arab countries that belong to developing economies.

'The Arab air transport sector has evolved from a regional coverage to a global one, and become a pillar of economic development in the Arab world, and an active contributor to connecting the world. This development would not have taken place had Arab governements not seen in the success of this sector an overall economic benefit. As we call for the Arab governments to continue providing support to this sector by developing the infrastructure, reducing the burden of taxes and charges, rationalising air routes, enhancing the competition environment and unifying the economic weight of the region to deal with common issues, we also urge the world's governments to adopt this same perspective, and implement similar measures that would ensure sustainabilty of this sector in order to play its positive role.'