ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 8. The President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Salvatore Sciacchitano, during the first visit to Kazakhstan, met with the Minister of Transport, Nurlan Sauranbayev, and discussed issues related to further strengthening cooperation, Trend reports.
The sides discussed flight safety, infrastructure modernization, passenger traffic growth, development of environmentally friendly aviation fuel (ACT-SAF), and other issues.
Following the meeting, a number of key documents were signed: a joint declaration between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as a master plan for the development of the civil aviation sector (SAMR) through 2050.
“The master plan envisions ICAO’s support for the Kazakh side in industry development issues for 2026-2050. Kazakhstan became the first country in Central Asia and the CIS region to create such a platform to improve the sector,” the statement said.
Salvatore Scaccitano highly praised Kazakhstan’s steps to develop the domestic civil aviation sector and its leadership in the region, including reforms, the activities of the Ministry of Transport, cooperation within the framework of the regional European and North Atlantic Office (EUR/NAT), and the level of compliance with ICAO standards and recommended practices. In particular, it was noted that over the past 15 years, Kazakhstan’s compliance with ICAO standards has increased from 47 percent to 82 percent, which allowed the lifting of all restrictions on flights of Kazakh airlines to EU countries.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's next goal is to reach 90 percent compliance with the Organization’s standards.
Moreover, the successful work on gender policy in the sector, the implementation of the “Open Skies” regime, and the execution of the National Plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the aviation sector were separately highlighted.
The parties agreed to continue maintaining contacts at a high level and in a positive dynamic.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized UN agency established in 1944 to regulate international civil aviation. It develops Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) that ensure the safety, efficiency, and orderly operation of air transport. Kazakhstan began its cooperation with ICAO upon gaining independence and officially became a member on March 2, 1992. Since then, Kazakhstan has participated in the organization’s work and implemented its standards and recommendations in the national aviation system
