Sphere Conferences, the conference arm of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH), said it has tied up with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to organise the inaugural Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2014.
The event will be held at the Traders Hotel in Yangon from 24 to 26 March.
The conference, touted as the country’s first strategic conference, will convene airport operators, regulators, senior airlines executives and key aviation stakeholders to “strategise, plan and capitalise on Myanmar,” which is seen by experts as the next booming aviation market in Asia.
U Nyan Tun Aung, union minister for Transport, said: “As we have always been working on the development of the aviation industry, we are happy to share our thoughts and masterplan with practitioners and experts from other countries.
“We are looking forward to hearing case studies and exchanging best practices with leading regional and international airlines, airport operators and service providers.”
The potential growth plans for Myanmar’s airlines and airports as the country poises to enter a major period of growth will be discussed at the event, the organiser said.
Chua Wee Phong, chairman of Sphere Conferences, said: “With engaging panel discussions and successful case studies, Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2014 will be the perfect platform for aviation leaders to exchange ideas and collaborate in achieving greater excellence in Asia’s next biggest aviation market.”
Since the opening up of its economy, Myanmar has seen a sharp increase in the number of business and leisure arrivals. With this trend projected to be on the rise, Myanmar’s aviation industry is expected to boom in the coming years. According to DCA of Myanmar, the total number of air passengers in 2030 is likely to rise to 30 million.
In addition, Myanmar’s fourth international airport, Harthawaddy International Airport, is expected to start its operations in 2018.
“The rapid growth signals strong demand for expertise and opportunities for investments from around the world,” Sphere Conferences said.
The key issues to be discussed at the conference include aviation outlook for Myanmar; regulations and the financial landscape; air cargo development; airport planning and design; integrating IT into existing initiatives; air traffic management; airport safety and security; emergence of low cost carriers in Myanmar; and cost control on fleet and fuel.
The organiser said the conference is expected to garner support from major international organisations and associations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the official industry partner for the event.
