El-Hefny affirms Egypt’s commitment to global cooperation in air transport
By Mohamed Attia
Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 42nd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montréal, Canada.
In his talks with the Icelandic delegation, both sides discussed the possibility of establishing direct air routes between Cairo and Reykjavík, in addition to strengthening cooperation in tourism and cultural aviation-related events. El-Hefny stressed that such initiatives would enhance connectivity and boost trade and tourism flows.
The minister also met Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, and Dr. Wilhelm Eschweiler, Director General of the German Civil Aviation Authority. Talks focused on digital transformation, capacity building, and the modernization of aviation operations. El-Hefny underlined Egypt’s progress in developing its aviation sector, highlighting the country’s growing role as a regional leader.
El-Hefny further held discussions with Aaron Thangaraj, Canada’s Deputy Minister of Defense, and Karen Asselin, Canada’s representative to the ICAO Council. The talks covered aviation safety standards and civil aviation systems, with both sides agreeing to deepen cooperation in regulatory and operational fields.
In a meeting with Tsutomu Saito, Japan’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, the two officials discussed collaboration in aviation electronics and technical expertise exchange. The Japanese side expressed keen interest in expanding economic and tourism ties with Egypt.
El-Hefny also met Tiago Viersten, President of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority. Discussions centered on low-cost air travel, airport operations, and enhancing cargo and passenger connectivity between Egypt and Latin America. El-Hefny noted Brazil’s strong aviation infrastructure and emphasized Egypt’s readiness to expand cooperation with one of the region’s largest aviation markets.
Concluding his meetings, Dr. El-Hefny affirmed that Egypt’s civil aviation strategy is based on openness to global partnerships and positioning Egypt as a central aviation hub. This vision, he stressed, directly supports the national economy by reinforcing tourism and trade links worldwide.
