MONTREAL, Sept. 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Minister of Transport of Indonesia, His Excellency E.E. Mangindaan, in Montreal for the Triennial General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), met with Canadian media this morning in Montreal, along with Mr. Rusdi Kirana, the CEO of Lion Air, the world's largest low cost air carrier and Mr. Herry Bakti Gumay, Director General of Civil Aviation. In an exposé of his country, the world's fourth most populous and the largest archipelagic territory with 17, 000 islands, the Minister stated that ''Indonedia regards air transportation as a main provider of connectivity. Last year, there were more than 131 million passengers, with an average growth of 16 % annually in passenger traffic in the last 5 years. The Government of Indonesia is taking the necessary measures to provide an adequate infrastructure for this fast-growing and economic-socially important sector.'' Further, we attach the greatest importance to the activities of ICAO, and our country is consequently a candidate for the election to Council of that UN agency, he added.
For his part, Mr. Rusdi Kirana, CEO of Lion Air, confirmed that ''his company had recently purchased 230 B-737 airplanes from Boeing which follows a first order of 170 airplanes in 2009 and another 234 A320 airplanes from Airbus for a total cost of US $ 46.4 billion.'' This increases Lion's fleet by more than 634 aircrafts and, as the new airplanes are added, ''this will improve its efficiency, safety, security and the environment'', four of the subjects being discussed at the ICAO General Triennial Assembly.
The Director General of Civil Aviation said that his country is ''also discussing partnerships with several countries on all continents, notably Australia, the United States, Japan and several countries in Africa and Europe with which Indonesia has important economic relations. I am also proud to be in Montreal to speak about Indonesia, for I have the feeling that we are not sufficiently well known on this side of the world.''
SOURCE: Wagram
Information (Press coverage, interviews):
Vincent Martineau/Senior Counsel-Media relations
514-914-5757
Richard G. Gervais/President, Wagram Communications
514-507-1134/514-815-1566 (cell.)
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