On the sidelines of the Aerospace Future Technology Symposium, Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El Hefny met Julio Peña Héctor, President of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), and his accompanying delegation, to discuss prospects for cooperation and the exchange of expertise in a number of priority areas of the air transport industry, in light of rapid developments in global aviation. The meeting was attended by Sameh Fawzy, Chairman of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, and Reem Oraby, Egypt's Alternate Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The meeting addressed a number of issues, including the extraordinary General Assembly, the distribution of seats among states, mechanisms for supporting regional groupings, and the Air Navigation Commission seats allocated to a number of regions, as well as ways to advance cooperation between the Latin American states and Egypt in aviation safety and security, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, capacity building and personnel development, in addition to exchanging views on the future of the aviation industry and key issues of mutual interest on the international civil aviation agenda.
El Hefny stressed Egypt's keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries, given their shared characteristics and challenges, emphasizing the importance of continuing to expand cooperation with regional and international organizations and bodies and exchanging expertise and best practices, to support the development of the civil aviation system and keep pace with rapid changes in the sector. He also noted the importance of strengthening international dialogue on using artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve operational efficiency, support safety and security, and prepare the air transport system for future requirements.
For his part, the LACAC President expressed his pleasure at taking part in the second edition of the El Alamein International Aerospace Show (EIAS 2026), saying that holding a second edition reflects the growing importance of the event as an international platform bringing together decision-makers, experts, institutions and companies in aviation, space and defense.
He praised the importance of holding the Aerospace Future Technology Symposium as part of the exhibition, as an important space for exchanging views on the future of the aviation industry amid rapid technological development, led by artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and human-machine integration, and the opportunities these technologies offer for improving operational efficiency, air traffic management, and safety and security.
He expressed his hope that EIAS 2026 will continue to establish itself as an international platform for dialogue, exchanging expertise and showcasing the latest innovations and technologies, and that the exhibition and symposium will open new horizons for international cooperation and partnerships and the exchange of expertise on using artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to develop the aviation industry, keeping pace with the sector's future trends and strengthening integration among all parties in the air transport industry.
