The Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are faced with a challenge of hosting the FIFA Soccer World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola the same year.

Both these major events require a sound, reliable and cost effective surface and air transport system to be in place by then.

The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Ts'ele Chakela said in order to address the challenge, the Member States need to reflect on the key challenges that are affecting the air transport and meteorology and map out realistic solutions to address them.

“These include the need for cost efficient seamless corridors that can fully support liberalised trade within the region,” he said.

He noted that poor air services amongst the SADC Member States and the rest of the continent as well as high cost of travel and its impact on the cost of doing business in the sub-region compared with global norms also need to be addressed.

Meanwhile SADC Ministers of Transport and Meteorology will meet to review among others the progress made in the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on Open Skies Policy, which was adopted in 1988 by Organisation of African Union ministers responsible for air transport and AU summit.

Source: LENA 09/07/2008