RIYADH: Representatives from over 100 countries and multinational organizations will assemble in Riyadh for the 15th International Conference on Air Services Negotiations, focusing on enhancing aviation for improved global transport. Beginning Dec. 3, the five-day event will attract over 700 civil aviation experts and specialists. The ICAN2023 Conference, recognized as the foremost international event in its category, is dedicated to aligning with the swift advancements in the global air transport industry, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Negotiations and discussions between delegations from different nations are set to take place on both bilateral and multilateral fronts. Moreover, the participants are expected to actively support the establishment of connections between regulatory bodies, air operators, and other relevant service providers. The conference will also see the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser and Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej. Ibtisam Al-Shehri, spokesperson for the GACA, mentioned to state TV Al-Ekhbariya that the Kingdom is hosting ICAN for the second time. She added that this edition is the largest yet, with five ministers and 34 heads of global aviation authorities participating in the event. The conference, coinciding with World Civil Aviation Day on its last day, will also highlight investment opportunities available in the Kingdom through the country’s National Aviation Strategy. The strategy aims to enhance the capabilities of the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector, positioning it as the leading sector in the Middle East by 2023 in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2023. The event also aligns with the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, aiming to enhance Saudi Arabia’s air connectivity from 99 destinations to over 250 across 29 airports. Furthermore, the strategy seeks to triple annual passenger traffic to reach 330 million. Launched in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the strategy additionally aims to double the capacity of the air cargo sector to over 4.5 million tons. The event is organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN agency that facilitates cooperation among 193 countries, allowing them to share their skies for mutual benefit. Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global aviation is further underscored by its election to the membership of the ICAO Council for the period 2023-2024-2025. This decision was reached during the 41st General Assembly of the organization held in Montreal, Canada. The Kingdom secured its re-election through a voting process involving the participation of all 193 member states of the UN, securing a position in the ICAO Council, which comprises 36 members.