During the opening ceremony, attended by Vice President Raquel Peña representing President Luis Abinader, and key aeronautical authorities from over 190 countries, ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano highlighted the Symposium’s potential to formalize crucial bilateral agreements between the organization and Member States. These agreements aim to bolster air transport through infrastructure development, training initiatives, and technology exchange.

Vice President Raquel Peña emphasized the global symposium’s objective of fortifying the industry’s global strategy, affirming the Dominican Republic’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the sector. She underscored the pivotal role of air transportation in enhancing the country’s international connectivity and reinforcing its status as a leading economy in the region.

Peña invited participants to engage with national and international panelists, urging them to leverage the platform to glean insights from successful safety implementations, comprehend the environmental impact of air operations, and explore strategies for fostering a sustainable future in the aeronautical industry.

Héctor Porcella, IDAC’s Director General, expressed gratitude to ICAO for selecting the Dominican Republic as the symposium’s host, marking the country as the first in the Americas to organize this global civil aviation gathering. Porcella emphasized that hosting the event was not solely IDAC’s decision but a collective commitment of the state, private sector, and the entire Dominican aeronautical and airport sector, with the unwavering support of President Luis Abinader and Minister of Tourism David Collado.