Indian Civil Aviation Minister to deliver Keynote Address at Investor Summit in Mumbai

The Honourable Shri Praful Patel, India's Minister of Civil Aviation is to deliver the Keynote Address at the Indian Subcontinent & Middle East Aviation & Tourism Investor Summit next week. Mr Patel’s address will cover the significant recent reforms in Indian aviation that have positioned the sector for rapid growth. Major developments include the privatisation process of Delhi and Mumbai airports; proposed IPOs of Air India and Indian Airlines; approval for qualified private carriers to operate long haul international services and regulatory clearance for a number of start-up low cost domestic carriers.

The Valedictory Address will be given by Ajay Prasad, Secretary for Civil Aviation, which will look forward to the further developments that can be expected in Indian aviation, in particular the USD8.4 billion upgrade and modernisation plan for gateway and regional airports across India.

The United States Department of Transportation will also be present at the Summit. David Modesitt, Chief Europe Division of the Office of International Aviation and the Senior Negotiator for South Asia, SE Asia, South Pacific, and the Caribbean, will address the issue of US aviation policy and recent initiatives such as the signing of Open Skies Agreements with a number of countries in South Asia and the US-India Aviation Cooperation Program. Mr Modesitt will explain how Open Skies is not simply an issue for airlines but is in fact an infrastructure investment to support economic growth.

Peter Bysouth, Assistant Director, International Air Transport Association, will present the airlines' perspective on regulatory reform, the privatisation of airports and in particular the establishment of the proposed Airport Economic Regulatory Authority in India.

Another key speaker to recently confirm participation in the Summit is Geoffrey Lipman, Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation. Mr Lipman will present the findings of a recent study examining the tourism investment and development potential in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The state’s forts, palaces and historic monuments are synonymous with Indian tourism. Mr Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Industry, from the Government of Uttaranchal, will outline the proactive approach being taken by the state to encourage investment in the aviation and tourism sectors.

Executives from the industry and government will assemble in Mumbai on 20-21 June 2005 to hear the latest trends, developments, opportunities and challenges in the aviation and tourism sectors in these vibrant regions.

Mr Peter Harbison, Managing Director of organiser, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, said, "the programme for the Investor Summit will yield fascinating insights into these fast-growing aviation and tourism markets. We are confident the mix of keynote addresses, panel discussions, exhibition and networking sessions planned at this unique Investor Summit, will be highly valuable for delegates in their analysis of business opportunities".

Confirmed speakers for the Investor Summit include:

- Air Deccan: Captain Gopinath, Managing Director
- Abu Dhabi Department of Civil Aviation: speaker tba
- Bharti Group: Rajan Mittal, Joint Managing Director 
- Boeing Commercial Airplanes: Dr Dinesh Keskar, Senior VP
- CAPA Consulting: Andrew Miller, CEO
- Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation: Peter Harbison, Managing Director
- Dubai Department of Civil Aviation: Jamal Al Hai, Director of Strategy 
- Exambela: David Feldman, Managing Partner
- Government of Uttaranchal, Mr Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Industry
- International Air Transport Association, Peter Bysouth, Assistant Director
- Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, Honourable Shri Praful Patel, Minister of Civil Aviation
- Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ajay Prasad, Secretary for Civil Aviation
- Interglobe-Accor Hotels JV: Uttam Dave, President & CEO
- Maldives Ministry of Tourism: Dr Mustfa Lutfi, Minister of Tourism 
- NM Rothschild & Sons Limited: Amitabh Malhotra, Assistant Director 
- Norton Rose: Simon Briscoe, Partner
- Ras al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation: H.E. Eng Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman
- Ras al Khaimah Government: Izzat Dajani, CEO, Investment and Development Office 
- SpiceJet: Ajay Singh, Director
- TUI: Thies Rheinsberg, Director Corporate Development
- United States Department of Transportation, David Modesitt, Chief Europe Division of the Office of International Aviation and Senior Negotiator for South Asia
- Uttaranchal Government: Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Industry
- Virgin Blue Airlines: David Huttner, former Head of Strategy
- World Tourism Organisation, Geoffrey Lipman, Special Adviser to Secretary General

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