Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka has expressed Fiji’s support for the Delhi Declaration, emphasizing the country’s commitment to maintaining and enforcing principles of safety, security, and innovation within the aviation sector.
Gavoka participated in the second Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation, which took place in New Delhi, India, and was elected as the conference’s Deputy Chair. The inaugural conference in 2018 in China concluded with the Beijing Declaration, which encouraged collaboration among states to address aviation challenges collectively.
This initiative aligns with the Fijian government’s ongoing commitment to prioritize aviation safety. Gavoka noted that the conference represented a unified effort from the Asia-Pacific Region to foster collaboration on regional aviation growth. He highlighted the significance of the Delhi Declaration, which replaces the Beijing Declaration and sets a political framework for managing aviation safety in the Asia-Pacific post-pandemic.
He also mentioned that Fiji’s State Safety Programme is fundamental to its aviation safety strategy, with the establishment of an independent accident investigation authority being a critical issue. Gavoka underscored the importance of seeking solutions through regional partnerships and targeted capacity-building initiatives to tackle these challenges.
The Deputy Prime Minister articulated that Fiji’s aim is clear: to ensure a prompt and independent response to any aviation incidents. The conference concluded with renewed commitments addressing crucial aviation issues such as safety and security, air navigation services, gender equality, environmental protection, civil aviation resourcing, and international Air Law Treaties.
Approximately 250 representatives from 41 countries gathered for the conference, marking a significant collaborative effort in the aviation sector.