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Montreal, Canada -October Transport Month was boosted yesterday when
Minister of Transport Mr Sibusiso Ndebele signed an agreement with the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which will see the training
of a new crop of aviation workers for South Africa and the continent. The
training agreement, which Ndebele signed with ICAO Secretary-General Mr
Raymond Benjamin in Montreal, Canada is expected to produce much-needed new
pilots, aircraft engineers, air navigation officers and all related aviation
sector practitioners.

Minister Ndebele is currently leading a South African delegation to the 37th
Assembly of ICAO being held in Montreal, Canada over the next 10days. The
agreement recognises that safety, security, efficiency in air navigation and
international civil aviation rely on the continuous training of aviation
personnel. The agreement will ensure increased assistance and cooperation in
the field of specialized aviation training between ICAO and the Department
of Transport.

ICAO and the Department of Transport have agreed to jointly develop and
implement an aviation training plan for South Africa. This would be
implemented from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2015. DOT and ICAO would
agree on the areas of training and identify training centres around South
Africa. Mr Benjamin said in Montreal the agreement would provide training in
aviation disciplines and assist South Africa to mobilize resources for
training through trilateral arrangements with willing partners. It would
also ensure that the training provided augments South Africa's capabilities
in building skills in Aviation Disciplines which are conducive to the
promotion of the safety, security and development of civil aviation. The
training centres will after completion of each training programme file
course reports to South Africa and to ICAO, said Mr Benjamin.

Minister Ndebele said South Africa would bear the costs of travel as well
the local expenses including the training and course fees; living
allowances; and the cost of accommodation for the selected candidates. ICAO
would provide the technical and expert support. Minister Ndebele said all of
Africa would benefit from this agreement. He said the development of
aviation services was paramount for the future of Africa as we embark on
closer integration with the world economy and increase our efforts to
improve living standards. Aviation in Africa or anywhere else cannot be
developed in isolation from other regions. We are therefore called upon to
provide and maintain world-class standards at every turn.

We are here to promote Africa's role as an integral part of the governance
of aviation worldwide. We are ready become global competitors while our
airport infrastructure meets economic growth and socio-economic goals of our
country and continent, said Ndebele. Minister Ndebele said this was a
welcome development especially as we host October Transport Month activities
around the country. We also hosted an aviation-heavy 2010 FIFA World Cup
which was incident-free. As part of our legacy from the World Cup we
continue to share experiences with the world. In preparation for UEFA 2012
the Ukrainian aviation authorities have visited South Africa. In preparation
for FIFA World Cup in 2014 Brazilian aviation authorities have also visited
us. We are also working closely with our counterparts in the rest of Africa
to share our experiences with them and them with us, in order to develop
aviation in Africa and the world.