Qatar has won membership of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council for the first time in its history, in elections that took place Tuesday at the meetings of the 41st session of the ICAO Assembly, which is convened in Montreal, Canada, with the participation of delegations from 193 countries.
The membership will be for the next three years (2023-2025) in Group C.
Qatar achieved a landslide victory in the elections and garnered 160 votes, making it one of the highest-scoring candidates in Group C, something that emphasises the country’s significant contributions and efforts in civil aviation industry, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement.
Following the announcement, HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti said Qatar’s winning of an ICAO Council membership emphasises the country’s ranking and recognition at international forums, regionally and globally, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. He said it also reflects ICAO member states’ confidence that Qatar is capable of significantly contributing to finding solutions to the aviation industry’s current and future challenges.
The result, he added, was also a fruit of the massive work that the country has done for long to develop its civil aviation sector, and which receives tireless and unlimited support from the government, until that critical sector has become world-renowned.
Today’s achievement, he said, ushers in a new era to further consolidate the country’s leading position in civil aviation industry worldwide, and serves as an incentive to continue innovatively deploying the best universal practices in safety, security, air navigation and environmental sustainability.
HE the Minister also asserted Qatar would continue supporting ICAO’s plans and programmes to achieve its objectives and principles, sharing many of ICAO’s values towards a sustainable future for aviation industry, thus ensuring no country is left behind, in addition to working with all member states to keep the skies a safe place for all.
HE the Minister al-Sulaiti thanked heads and members of all delegations participating in the 41st ICAO Assembly for their confidence and backing of Qatar’s membership bid. He also appreciated the great efforts of work teams from all entities.
Noteworthy, Qatar, running in the elections as an independent country candidate, successfully obtained enough votes to serve on the decision-making council.
Related Story