Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka, has expressed the nation’s support for the Delhi Declaration, emphasizing a commitment to uphold and implement principles of safety, security, and innovation in the aviation sector. Gavoka participated in the second Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in New Delhi, where he was elected as the Deputy Chair of the conference.
The inaugural Conference on Civil Aviation took place in 2018 in China and concluded with the Beijing Declaration, which facilitated collaboration among nations to address aviation challenges collectively. This initiative aligns with the Fijian government’s ongoing efforts to prioritize aviation safety.
Gavoka highlighted that the conference represents a unified commitment from the Asia-Pacific region to foster collaboration and bolster regional aviation growth. He noted that the Delhi Declaration supersedes the Beijing Declaration and establishes a political framework for Asia and Pacific states to pursue a vision for managing aviation safety, aiming for a resilient and dynamic air transport system in the post-pandemic landscape.
He pointed out that Fiji’s State Safety Programme has been fundamental to its aviation safety initiatives, identifying the establishment of an independent accident investigation authority as a critical priority. Gavoka emphasized the importance of seeking solutions through regional partnerships and targeted capacity-building efforts to address these challenges.
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined Fiji’s clear objective: to ensure effective and independent responses to any aviation incidents. The conference yielded renewed commitments to tackle various urgent aviation issues, including safety and security, air navigation services, facilitation, gender equality, environmental protection, resource allocation for civil aviation, and international air law treaties. Approximately 250 representatives from 41 countries participated in the conference.