A new Air Service Agreement between Solomon Islands and New Zealand has been signed this week following the successful conclusion of negotiations between officials from both countries.
SOLOMON Islands and New Zealand have signed a new Air Service Agreement which is poised to enhance partnership and fostering greater collaboration in air connectivity in Honiara on Thursday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) on Friday announced that the agreement was signed after senior officials from both countries successfully concluded two days of negotiations on the new air service framework.
The new framework will replace the previous agreement signed in Honiara on 30 May 1990.
The new Air Service Agreement is a framework embracing contemporary practices in the aviation industry, characterised by a more modern outlook on the collective vision of both countries to enhance their partnership and foster greater collaboration in the realm of air connectivity.
The signing of the agreement’s consolidated text was executed in Honiara on Thursday between the Chief Negotiators – MFAET Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck, on behalf of Solomon Islands and Chief Air Rights Negotiator and Principal Adviser of the New Zealand Ministry of Transport, Sonya van der Geer, on behalf of New Zealand.
Mr Beck said the new Air Service Agreement will foster a new era of cooperation and connectivity, strengthening the bilateral relations of Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
He acknowledged Solomon Islands aviation stakeholders who were instrumental in ensuring the successful outcome of the ASA negotiations, including the Ministry of Communication & Aviation (MCA), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) and Solomon Airlines Limited, who were also part of the Solomon Islands delegation.
Through the new Air Service Agreement framework, Solomon Islands hopes to see increased opportunities enabling people-to-people connections, strengthened economic growth, and promotion of tourism and economic activities.
A Memorandum of Arrangement was also signed by the Chief-Negotiators, to submit to their respective governments for approval and authorisation to sign the new Air Service Agreement.
– MFAET
