Aviation Africa event moves to Rwanda for 2017
The second Aviation Africa event will be held in the capital city of Rwanda - recently named by the United Nations as Africa’s prettiest city - and is officially supported by the Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority and RwandAir.
The first event was held in May 2015 in Dubai, and featured 40 exhibitors, 12 sponsors and over 400 delegates.
Above:
The opening of the first event in May last year.
The 2017 event - organised by Southend-based Times Aerospace - will be a two-day conference and exhibition focusing on all aspects of the aviation industry including MRO, business aviation, defence and commercial aviation.
The event is supported by the Rwandan Government, whilst the Rwanda Development Board, Akagera Aviation and Kigali Serena Hotel are confirmed partners.
Rwanda is fully committed to supporting the Aviation Africa 2017 event and ensuring that aviation related events grow in Rwanda. It will be inviting all those involed with Rwanda's aviation industry to the event, as well as their counterparts across the African continent.
Rwanda was chosen as an ideal location for the second event based on a number of key benefits it has to offer, including its open visa policy for all African and international visitors, operating a visa-on-arrival service, to welcome participants globally and Africans from across the entire continent. It has a strategic geographic location, a large investment in tourism and hospitality and high levels of security.
According to IATA’s latest forecast, Rwanda is one of the 10 African countries whose aviation market is expected to grow by 7-8% each year on average over the next 20 years, doubling in size each decade. The World Bank in 2015, voted Rwanda 46th in the world and 2nd in Africa after Mauritius as best countries to do business in.
Aviation experts say 2015 could well have been the year when a strong foundation was laid for the country’s aviation industry. They point to the $45 million expansion works at Kigali International Airport, including terminal expansion and airside parking, the planned new airport at Bugesera, 40 kilometres from the capital, with $750 million support, and the upgrading of Kamembe airport among others.
Kigali Airport was recently ranked seventh in Africa and the best Airport in East Africa by Skytrax. According to experts this rank could be a game-changer in attracting future investors.
RwandAir is expanding its routes and there are more airlines than ever flying into Rwanda, including Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Turkish Airlines, SN Brussels and Emirates Cargo.
Above:
Alan Peaford MBE will again chair the event conference.
Alan Peaford MBE, Conference Organiser and Chairman of Avaition Africa, said: “We are really pleased to host our next Aviation Africa in Kigali.
"We have visited Kigali on a number of occasions and are not only impressed by the investment the government is making in their aviation industry but also in the country as a whole.
"The city is safe, progressive and growing quickly and we know that Aviation Africa will develop along with it.”
For more information on Aviation Africa 2017 and how to participate please visit the website at:
www.aviationafrica.aero