Washington, DC–The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today warmly welcomed the endorsement of a set of core principles to facilitate business aviation operations by Transport Ministers of the 21 member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum at the conclusion of their meeting in Tokyo on September 5. As the Ministers’ statement at the conclusion of the meeting said, "In accordance with these principles, business aviation can connect major Asia-Pacific centers of trade in an unprecedented, time-saving manner. These principles serve to open the door to global commerce for smaller communities and rural populations across the region that require access to major cities and manufacturing centers."  

Hailing the APEC Ministers’ statement, GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce stated, "Transport Ministers In the Asia Pacific region, the region with the world’s strongest economic growth, have given the go-ahead for their governments to develop regulations and policies to establish a regulatory environment that will allow business aviation to fully take advantage of its flexibility and diversity and contribute to the achievement of APEC’s key objectives of enhancing trade and investment among its member economies." 

GAMA is proud to have been a strong supporter of this APEC initiative when it was launched in September 2011 and has provided, together with global operators’ associations, technical advice to the APEC working group that developed the core principles over the past two years.

"The Asia Pacific region has more than doubled its market share of annual business aircraft deliveries between 2007 and 2012,” noted Bunce. "This strong growth is proof that economies in this region recognize that business aviation is not only a productivity tool for business but also helps countries achieve their economic and regional development objectives,” he added. "With these core principles now endorsed at the highest level, the work must begin to implement them across the region."

Recognizing the paramount importance of operational flexibility, the principles recognize business aviation operators’ freedom to fly within the region, urge economies to facilitate the process of obtaining necessary permits in a timely manner and encourage authorities to treat non-commercial business aviation operators appropriately, i.e., as private operators.

A copy of the APEC core principles is attached. The full Ministerial statement can be found at:  http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001010231.pdf.  

NOTE: APEC is the premier Asia Pacific economic forum with the goal of supporting sustainable economic growth and prosperity in its member economies. It focuses its activities on spurring free trade and investment, promoting regional economic integration, encouraging economic and technical cooperation, enhancing human security and facilitating a favorable and sustainable business environment. APEC member economies are: Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Peoples Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei; Thailand; The United States, and; Vietnam.