Aviation Pitso 2010

source: Republic of Botswana (6/6/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 6 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"

C7) 24/5/10: AVIATION PITSO 2010

His Excellency the President Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama will, in June 1, 2010 grace the occasion of the first-ever Aviation Stakeholders' Conference branded Aviation Pitso.

The Aviation Pitso will be held at the Riley's Hotel in Maun from the 31st May, to 1st June, 2010.

Organized by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Aviation Pitso with the theme "Aviation Efficiency for Business Excellence: Towards Economic Growth", will provide a platform for stakeholders in the air transport industry to discuss and address issues pertaining to the impact of aviation on economic growth and diversification in Botswana.

According to the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Transport) Mr Lewis Malikongwa the "the Aviation Pitso will bring together operators, consumers, policy makers and regulatory authority to brainstorm and offer pragmatic solutions to challenges facing the Aviation industry in Botswana. Time has now come for us to explore turnaround strategies that can growth air transport industry."

As such, the Conference will look at issues of airline management and, in particular, managing an efficient, safe and sustainable aviation services. "Security and safety have remained issues that call for collective decision and leadership re-orientation across the industry, says Mr Malikongwa. The Ministry of Transport and Communications looks forward toward to working with our partners to come up with implementable resolutions. The need to liberalise the air space will also take centre stage during the conference as the Ministry is expected to give a status report on the Liberalisation of the Air Transport.

Participants to the conference will include airline operators, consumers, the regulatory authority (Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana), policy makers, financial institutions and some government departments.

The conference comes at an opportune time as the government is engaged in massive infrastructural development of the aviation industry to international level.

The Aviation Pitso will be officially opened by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Honourable Frank Ramsden on the 31st May, 2010.