GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank) has increased its engagement in aviation safety, by financing public sector air transport officials from its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) to attend the Third Global Forum on Aviation Safety of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Caribbean High Level Symposium on Aviation Safety hosted by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

Air transport underpins trade, tourism and connectivity across the Region, yet many small aviation administrations face limited technical capacity, tight budgets and increasingly complex international standards. The Forum, held in Georgetown, Guyana on 29 and 30 September under the theme "Optimizing Resources through Coordination and Cooperation", examined how states can pool expertise through regional safety oversight and accident investigation organisations. 

The Forum was followed by the Caribbean High-Level Symposium on Aviation Safety, hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat in partnership with CDB, under the theme "Strengthening Caribbean Aviation Safety: Regional Cooperation, Resilient Oversight and Sustainable Capacity Development".  

"We are honoured to support this important event that acknowledges the multilateral reality of our challenges, and that a safe, secure, sustainable, and interoperable global aviation system depends on international cooperation, harmonised standards, and strong institutional capacity," announced William Ashby, Division Chief (Ag), Economic Infrastructure Division during the Opening of the Symposium. 

The Symposium applied a focussed regional lens to the outputs of the global Forum.  It brought together Caribbean Ministers, Directors General of Civil Aviation, regulatory authorities, regional and international organisations and development partners to discuss strategic issues affecting aviation safety, air transport development, connectivity and sustainable growth.  It also aimed to strengthen regional dialogue on aviation policy, institutional development and the role of air transport in advancing the Region's economic and social objectives. 

The Bank provided US$75,000 from its Special Development Fund resources, covering travel and accommodation for at least one technical representative from each BMC and the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.  Experts from its Economic Infrastructure Division also served as panellists, sharing the Bank's experience with participants. 

CDB's involvement reflects its increased focus on holistically supporting the sector, in support of infrastructural investments such as its ongoing projects in Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. By increasing aviation oversight and regional cooperation, the Bank is advancing economic resilience and its priority of strengthening institutions. 

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