Montreal: Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny engaged in pivotal discussions with officials from Cuba and Poland at the 42nd ICAO General Assembly in Montreal, Canada, to explore avenues for bolstering civil aviation collaboration.

According to State Information Service Egypt, El-Hefny's meeting with Armando Daniel L³pez, head of Cuba's Civil Aviation Institute, centered on the prospect of signing a memorandum of understanding that could lead to a formal air services agreement. The discussions addressed technical and operational partnerships, as well as the potential expansion of commercial air routes between Cairo and the Caribbean. L³pez extended congratulations to Egypt for securing a seat on the ICAO Council (Category II) and sought Cairo's backing for Cuba's application for Category III membership.

The Cuban delegation, comprising senior officials from air navigation, legal affairs, and Cuba's permanent mission to ICAO, echoed the sentiment of deepening cooperation. El-Hefny emphasized Egypt's commitment to fostering ties with Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting aviation's role in promoting global integration.

Separately, El-Hefny conferred with Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak on ways to enhance aviation relations through technical training, infrastructure development, and increased air traffic. The dialogue also touched on boosting tourism, particularly in light of the growing number of Polish visitors to Egypt.

Klimczak commended Egypt's contributions to regional aviation and its airport development initiatives. He advocated for improved connectivity between European and African markets through Cairo and extended congratulations on Egypt's ICAO Council achievement, expressing hopes for reciprocal support for Poland's Category III candidacy.