Kathmandu, August 19

Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai has said that the sky should be open for all nations while addressing the 56th Director Generals of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conference today. Minister Bhattarai said that the sky should be open for all nations in order to address the increasing demand of connectivity for the world.

“Nepal has adopted an open sky policy and we believe in the core value of this policy that the sky should be accessible for all, so that no nation or people will feel isolated,” he said.

The minister further said that Nepal is making all possible efforts to be a more active member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). “We are putting in our best efforts to make the country’s aviation sector safe, secure, efficient, economically viable and environmentally sustainable,” he said.

“ICAO itself has certified Nepal’s aviation sector as safe and removed the country from its Significant Safety Concern list.”

Meanwhile, Minister Bhattarai further mentioned that Nepal has already taken the initiative to separate the country’s aviation regulatory authority into two entities — regulation body and operational body — following the recommendation of ICAO. “On Sunday, the Cabinet endorsed the proposal of splitting the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into regulation and operational body,” he said, adding, “I take this platform to inform you all that Nepal is moving towards improving its air navigation system and developing necessary infrastructure.”

While the country is upgrading the Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport, the government will soon begin the construction of Nijgadh International Airport that will be established as an international transit hub, Bhattarai added.

The 56th DGCA conference kicked off today and will continue till August 23. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had inaugurated the conference today morning, and informed the 400 foreign delegates that Nepal is improving its aviation sector and will continue to make it better.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Bhattarai handed over the flag of ICAO that was carried to Mount Everest this spring season to mark the 75th anniversary of ICAO to Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, the ICAO president.

Director generals of civil aviation of 43 countries along with chief of civil aviation regulatory body of the European Union, the United States, United Kingdom and France are participating in the event. Likewise, Arun Mishra, regional director of Asia-Pacific region of ICAO, along with other representatives from 16 different international organisations are also taking part in the event.