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WHO:Keynote speaker Susan McDermott, Assistant Secretary-Aviation and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation
WHAT: USAfrica Air Transportation Summit
WHEN:Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE:Westin Colonnade Hotel, 180 Argon Avenue, Coral Gables
BACKGROUND:Building air service between the United States and Africa and breaking down the barriers that hinder it will be the topic of discussion during the three-day 2nd USAfrica Air Transportation Summit on June 6-8, 2007, hosted by Miami International Airport (MIA). The Summit is organized by the Washington, D.C.-based development organization Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) and will feature U.S. and African air transportation regulators and airline, banking, airport and aviation industry experts.
As South Florida is the closest U.S. market to Africa, the region is uniquely poised to be the U.S. gateway to that continent and the major economic benefactor from future growth in air service links and trade from emerging economies in Africa. For example, 80 percent of cut flowers imported into the U.S. journey through MIA, which has the capacity and distribution network to handle much more, such as those produced in Kenya. Nearly 80 percent of cut flowers imported into Europe originate from Kenya.
Among the speakers at the Summit are: Ambassador H.E. Ali of the African Union; Mr. Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Minister of Transport – Kenya; Mr. Ato Girma Wake, CEO – Ethiopian Airlines; Marc Cavaliere, Executive Vice President-North America, South African Airways; and Mr. Conrad Clifford, CEO – Virgin Nigeria Airways. Other confirmed speakers include representatives from: airlines in Tanzania and United Arab Emirates; the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT); aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing; and the World Bank.
For further information about the Summit, please contact Marc T. Henderson at 305.876.7907 or at mhenderson@miami-airport.com.
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