More than 250 Senior Aviation Executives from 35 countries, convened in Hong Kong on 9th May, 2006 to witness the signing of the Historic Agreement on the Integration of Asia with Pacific Region of Airport Council International. This was followed by the Joint Regional Assembly of Asia Pacific wherein, Mr. Mohammed Ahli, the Operations Director of Dubai Civil Aviation, was elected as the first Vice President of the Joint Region with Mr. Max Moore Wilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Airport Corporation as the President.
Mr. Ahli, during his address to the Assembly thanked the Board and the Task Force members for the support he had received from them and paid a special tribute to Mr. Ghanem Hajri, the past Chairman of ACI and Director General of Sharjah Airport for his leadership and the extensive work he has done towards making integration a success. Mr. Ahli also nominated Directors of Oman Airport, Presidency of Saudi Arabia ,Salalah Airport, Male Airport, Director General of Lebanon Civil Aviation, Chairmen of Sri Lanka Airport and Airports Authority of India, to the Board, giving the Middle East Countries and Asian subcontinent a prominent place in the regional board and thereby in the Global Aviation Scene.
The Regional Merger, initiated by Mr. Ahli six years ago, will cover 60 percent of the World population encompassing 478 Airports in 50 countries covering Middle East, Indo Pakistan sub continent, former CIS countries, North East and South East Asia, Oceania, Pacific Island Nations, Vancouver, San Francisco and Hawaii handling over one billion passengers, 30 million tons of freight and 9 million aircraft movements.
While addressing the CEO'S Forum which preceded the Assembly, Mr. Ahli's well received speech, he outlined the Dubai International Airport's strategy by discussing the mammoth investments made in Dubai, in the Real Estate development sector and the infrastructure in Airport expansion including Airport City project, to sustain the Growth Momentum. This has been possible due to the far sighted vision of HH. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, Prime Minister and Vice President of UAE in projecting Dubai on the world map.
Members of the Governing Board comprising of CEO'S from prestigious Airports of Europe, Canada, US, New Zealand and Australia were impressed by his presentation which gave them an insight into development activities in Dubai prompting them to propose the next meeting to be held here.
In response to their eagerness to visit Dubai, Mr. Ahli, agreed to host the next World Governing Board and Executive Committee Meetings of ACI in March, 2007 giving Dubai an opportunity for showcasing development activities at the Airport and the city,.
The integration will facilitate sharing resources, new technologies and management experience across the two regions further cementing the Airports role as an engine of economic growth.
Election of Mr. Ahli to the post of Vice President of the merged region is seen as an endorsement of his services to the Global Aviation Community.
-Ends-
Salim Dahman
Coordinator, Press Relations and Communications
Marketing and Corporate Communications Directorate
Department of Civil Aviation,
Dubai
Tel: +9714 216 1207/1219
Fax:+9714 224 4703
© Press Release 2006
