2nd Annual India and Middle East Aviation and Tourism Investor Summit to be 27-28 April 2006 in Mumbai

The investment environment in India’s aviation sector has improved markedly in recent months, according to the leading aviation consultancy, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, in the lead up to the 2nd Annual India and Middle East Aviation and Tourism Investor Summit to be held on 27-28 April 2006 in Mumbai.

“The recent signing of agreements with private consortia to modernise Delhi and Mumbai airports and the green light for the Air India-Indian Airlines and Jet Airways-Air Sahara mergers sends positive signals to investors that India is now well and truly open for business”, said Kapil Kaul, the Centre’s CEO Indian Subcontinent & Middle East.

“We now await the finalisation of the much-anticipated Civil Aviation Policy by the government, to guide the sector’s development through the exciting times ahead”, added Mr Kaul.

Indian Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, will present the keynote address at the Summit.

Key sessions include:

• Developing World Class Airports for India: What are international Investors Looking For? • Middle East Airports: A Vision for Long Term Economic Development • Airlines: Investing in the Region's Growth • Corporate Jets, Fractional Ownership and Fixed Base operations: The Next Big Thing? • Low Cost Carrier Panel - Sustainable Expansion • Tourism Policy and Masterplans • Investing in the Region’s Travel Industry: Hotels, Entertainment and Distribution

The event has attracted a strong line up of speakers already, including:

• Hon. Shri Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister, India Civil Aviation • Ministry • Amitabh Kant, Joint Secretary, India Ministry of Tourism • Stelios, Founder and Chairman, easyGroup • Tony Fernandes, CEO, AirAsia • Adel Ali, CEO, Air Arabia • Arjun Sharma, Managing Director, TUI Le Passage • V.K.Verma, Commercial Director, Air India • Vab Goel, Partner, Norwest Venture Partners • A. K. Mishra, Board Member (Planning), Airports Authority of India • Anita Mehra Homayoun, Director - Marketing & Corporate Communications, • Dubai Department of Civil Aviation • V. J. Kurian, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport • Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman & Managing Director, Kingfisher Airlines • Jim Parker, Managing Director, Raymond James • Sunil Gomes, Vice President Development, Nakheel • Dr Abdulaziz Y. Al-Babutain, Director General - Transportation Sector, • Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority • Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, Jet Airways • Dr Prathap Ramanujam, Secretary Minister, Sri Lanka Ministry of Tourism • Ajay Singh, Director, SpiceJet • Captain Gopinath, Managing Director, Air Deccan • Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Managing Director, Hyderabad International Airport • Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, Go Air • Manav Singh, Managing Director, Club One Air • Isabelle Kayaloff, Director, IJK & Associates.

The Summit will feature over 10 hours networking time, including a welcome reception hosted by Kingfisher Airlines, a South Australia Wine Appreciation Reception, hosted by South Australia Department of Trade & Economic Development, a Gala Dinner, networking lunches and 3 coffee receptions per day. A hospitality lounge will be available to all guests, featuring the region's leading newspapers for delegates to pursue, screenings of Bloomberg Television, and coverage of the Centre's upcoming events in 2006.

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