NEW DEHLI: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation is attending Wings India 2024, an international event that started in Hyderabad on Thursday to bring together aviation leaders from all over the world. Wings India, organized by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is a biennial event and the largest of its kind in South Asia. It was inaugurated at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia, who highlighted India’s rise as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market as he welcomed over 5,000 aerospace engineers, policymakers, government officials and representatives of airlines and airport agencies from more than 100 countries. Saudi participation in the event aims to “showcase the sustainability and advanced technology developments in the Saudi aviation sector” as the Kingdom seeks to “enhance international cooperation in the aviation sector,” the GACA said in a statement after participating in the event’s Global Ministerial Conference. “Our participation will help promote promising opportunities created by the Saudi Aviation Strategy.” Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in the sector’s development and in March last year announced the creation of a new national airline, Riyadh Air, which is expected to compete with the top regional transport and travel hubs. Under the Saudi Aviation Strategy, the Kingdom plans to establish international connections with 250 destinations by 2030 and position the Kingdom as a leading global aviation hub, capitalizing on its strategic location that connects three continents. “GACA’s participation in the event will highlight the contribution of Saudi civil aviation to the national economy and the investment opportunities in the sector,” the aviation authority said. Wings India 2024 features exhibitions, demonstration flights, conferences, and one-to-one business meetings. The four-day event is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors.