Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Interior Lieutenant General-Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Ministry of Transportation’s Civil Aviation Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior’s Customs Affairs will be hosting the Second International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Joint Conference on Enhancing Air Cargo Security and Facilitation. The conference will be attended by the Secretary Generals of both organizations as well as the Director General of the Universal Postal Union and will be held on the 16th and 17th of April.

On this occasion the Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed stated that the conference will promote awareness and collaboration among aviation security authorities, customs administrations and stakeholders, as well as highlight the challenges facing the global air cargo industry as well as possible solutions.

His Excellency further added that this will be the first time the Kingdom of Bahrain hosts a conference that brings together the Secretary Generals of both organizations as well as top officials from various international organizations hence offering a unique opportunity to interact with senior policy makers, experts and practitioners from States and relevant international organizations. About 300 participants from 45 countries are expected to attend the conference as well as representatives from more than ten international organizations.

The conference agenda will include various topics notably those related to promoting and facilitating air cargo procedures and joint cooperation from the relevant stakeholders in order to overcome future challenges. The conference will also provide participants with an in-depth understanding of current international aviation trade issues, emerging security protocols and ways that stakeholders can work together to enhance aviation security and trade facilitation. An exhibition on air cargo security and facilitation technologies and services organized by ICAO will be held concurrently to the conference