Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka, expressed the country’s support for the Delhi Declaration and its dedication to upholding principles of safety, security, and innovation within the aviation sector. His remarks came during the second Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation held in New Delhi, India, where he was elected as the Deputy Chair.
The inaugural Civil Aviation Conference in 2018, hosted in China, culminated in the Beijing Declaration, which encouraged nations to collaborate in addressing shared aviation challenges. This ongoing commitment is part of Fiji’s government agenda to prioritize aviation safety.
Gavoka emphasized that the Conference represents a commitment from the Asia-Pacific region to promote collaboration aimed at harmonizing regional aviation development. The Delhi Declaration, which replaces the Beijing Declaration, sets a political groundwork for Asian and Pacific nations to establish a vision for managing aviation safety and enhancing a resilient air transport system in the post-pandemic environment.
He noted that Fiji’s State Safety Programme is essential to its aviation safety strategy and highlighted the urgent need for an independent accident investigation authority. Gavoka stressed the importance of finding solutions through regional partnerships and targeted capacity-building efforts to overcome existing challenges.
Fiji is focused on ensuring an effective and independent response to any aviation incidents. The Conference concluded with renewed commitments to address a range of critical aviation issues, including safety and security, air navigation services, facilitation, gender equality, environmental protection, resources for Civil Aviation, and adherence to international Air Law Treaties. Approximately 250 representatives from 41 countries participated in the event.