Unguja. Over 200 aviation industry experts from aviation regulatory authorities are gathering in Zanzibar to discuss safety and security in the sector.
The experts are aviation service providers, airport operators, and other key stakeholders in aviation from 10 African countries.
The sixth East African Aviation Transport Forum is expected to kick off today, May 15, until the 16th.
The Minister of Construction, Communications, and Transport, Dr. Khalid Salum Mohamed, said the objective of the forum is to discuss matters concerning air safety, environmental protection, innovation, and technology.
“The member countries will have the opportunity to exchange expertise in aviation and safety issues,” he said.
The forum, organized by the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (EAC CASSOA) in collaboration with the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), bears the theme, ‘The future of air transport, maintaining resilient, sustainable, innovative, and safe air transport systems.’
Participants of the forum are from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, and the host Tanzania.
Through the meeting, member countries will establish joint plans for investing in aviation infrastructure and services and continue efforts to harmonize laws, regulations, and guidelines governing safety and aviation.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (EAC CASSOA) who also doubles as the Director-General of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Hamza Johari, said it is a great honor for the nation as aviation is rapidly growing on the island.
He said they decided to establish an organization to unite their efforts in member countries to ensure the safety and quality of aviation services in the community’s airspace.
“What we are doing is bringing stakeholders together to discuss these issues to ensure sustainable and safe air transport,” he said.
He said they chose to hold the forum in Zanzibar because it has become a major aviation hub and tourism destination in East Africa.
According to Johari, after the conclusion of the forum, they will leave with a strategic plan, especially after going through the Covid-19 period and its challenges.
“We are looking at the challenges during covid-19, what happened afterward, what challenges we faced, and how to ensure the East African Community does not lag behind in aviation,” he said.
On his part, the Executive Director of EAC CASSOA, Richard Gatete, said the event is significant because they are looking at operations and infrastructure by bringing stakeholders together to ensure safety.
He said during the two days, they will discuss various issues affecting the industry and assess what is happening and what could affect the sector.
“We want to learn from challenges and see how we move forward, so we need to prepare to be united,” he said.
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
ALSO READ: NBC participates in TFF 2023/24 awards, promises to enhance competition
On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
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