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Gabon outlines aviation ambitions at 5th ICAO Global Symposium in Marrakech
via Gabon Review2 min read
Gabon presented its strategic priorities in the air transport sector at the 5th International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO Global Symposium, held in Marrakech on April 14 and 15, 2026. The event, hosted for the first time in Africa, gathered 1,500 participants from 130 countries under the theme "Regional Solutions, Global Benefits." The Gabonese delegation, led by the Minister of State for Transport, Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, highlighted the country's commitment to safer, more efficient, and better-structured air transport. The Minister emphasized the alignment of national reforms with global sector priorities, noting that the symposium's themes resonate with ongoing projects in Libreville, including the drafting of a national air transport policy and an airport master plan. Gabon is implementing a modernization program for its airport infrastructure, with ten airports targeted for rehabilitation, six of which have already undergone partial or complete work. These investments aim to enhance domestic connectivity and operational safety. Additionally, Gabonese authorities are pursuing a major project: the construction of a new airport in Andembe, envisioned as a strategic driver for sector development and positioning Gabon as a regional hub. The next ICAO Global Symposium will take place in Angola in 2027.
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