The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has organized a roundtable meeting of the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) in London to discuss investment opportunities and cooperation in the civil aviation sector. The meeting was headed by GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej and attended by the director general of the Aviation, Maritime, and Security Group at the British Ministry of Transport, Dr. Rannia Leontaridi, as well as the head of the British delegation in the council, Jennie Gubbins, along with a delegation from the Saudi-British Business Council, vice presidents, CEOs, officials, and experts in the aviation field.
The meeting focused on improving investment relations between the two countries, enhancing economic and investment ties, and enabling the private sector to benefit from investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the UK.
During his address at the meeting, the GACA president emphasized the thriving commercial and investment partnership between the two countries.
He highlighted the increasing value of Saudi exports to the UK, reaching SAR 1.36 billion by the first quarter of 2024, and the annual growth rate of exports to the UK, which reflected the strength of economic relations.
GACA also emphasized the strategic importance of the UK as a primary source in the European market and the significant increase in passenger traffic between the two countries. He pointed out Saudi Arabia’s strategic location, which links three continents, and the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the infrastructure of the civil aviation sector to strengthen trade relations with the UK. GACA also mentioned the Authority’s exploration of innovative solutions in aviation, such as advanced air mobility and air traffic management systems, integrating artificial intelligence and digital technologies to enhance the overall flying experience and operational efficiency.
The delegation presented an overview of the National Aviation Strategy, its achievements, its role in enhancing air connectivity,
technology, digital transformation use, and initiatives for advanced air mobility and environmental sustainability in civil aviation activities.
Additionally, they briefed the participants on the Saudi airport sector, its implementation mechanism, volume of investments, and business opportunities, highlighting investment incentives in the Saudi aviation sector.
Moreover, the Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS) signed a framework agreement with the British National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to enhance airport capacity. As part of the meeting, Al-Duailej met with Dr. Rannia Leontaridi to review cooperation in civil aviation. He also met with the CEO of NATS (name?) and the CEO of Gulfstream (name?) in the presence of representatives from the aviation sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Source: Saudi Press Agency