FINAL COMMUNIQUE, CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

 
The Conference of African Ministers of Transport and Communications held its eleventh session in Cairo, The Arab Republic of Egypt from 25 to 27 November 1997.

 Forty-six countries were represented at the Conference. Observers from twenty-five Regional and International institutions attended.

 The Conference was preceded by the eleventh meeting of the Technical Committee of Experts which met in Cairo from 22 to 24 November 1997.

 The meeting was opened by His Excellency, Engineer Soliman Metawali Soliman, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

 The meeting was also addressed by Dr. K.Y.Amoako, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA and the Representatives of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the African Development Bank (ADB).

 The Conference reviewed the situation of transport and communications in Africa and examined the second mid-term evaluation of the Second United Nations Transport and Communication Decade (UNTACDA II) and adopted a Framework for Action for Accelerating the Implementation of UNTACDA II in the years 1998 to 2000 and building strong and efficient transport and communication systems in Africa for the 21st century.

 The Conference has also discussed the status of implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration and that of Air Transport Safety in Africa in light of recent developments in the industry and the Global Navigation Systems/Air Transport Management initiative.

 The Ministers adopted two resolutions, one on the Framework for Action the Accelerated Implementation of UNTACDA and one on the re-structuring and development of Railways in Africa.

 The Ministers have participated in the First African Transport Forum and discussed topics including the Financing of Infrastructure, Capacity Building for the Development of Transport and Communications, Transport Safety, Transport related environmental issues and several policy related issues.

 During their stay in Cairo, the Ministers were received by His Excellency Dr. Kamal el Ganzoury, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt.  

The Ministers have adopted a Vote of Thanks to H.E. President Muhamad Hosny Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to his government and to the people of Egypt for the warm hospitality extended to them and the excellent facilities put at the disposal of the Conference.

  The Ministers have reaffirmed their firm commitment to Regional cooperation and the fulfillment of the objectives of the Decade.

 They have expressed appreciation to the Secretariat for the efforts put in the preparation of their Conference and the quality of the documents put at their disposal.

Done at Cairo on

27 November 1997