Bandar Seri Begawan, Sunday 19 February 2006 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) / ASIAN AEROSPACE 2006 Pte Ltd will be organising a two (2) days IATA / ASIAN AEROSPACE Aviation Summit 2006 which will be taking place from 20 February 2006 on Monday to 21 February 2006 on Tuesday at Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore. The theme for this year Summit is ‘Mapping The Future’

Representing Brunei Darussalam to this Summit is the Minister of Communications, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong. Accompanying Yang Berhormat Pehin is the Director of Transportation, Ministry of Communications, Pg Haji Mohd Yakub bin Pg Haji Othman and also the Director of Civil Aviation Department, Awg Haji Kasim bin Haji Latip. Brunei Darussalam’s attendance to this Summit is following an invitation from the Minister of Transport of The Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Mr. Yeo Cheow Tong who will also be present to officiate the event.

It is expected that this year’s Summit will bring together approximately 265 airlines operators which flights by these airlines comprise 94 percent of all international scheduled air traffic.

During day one (1) of the Summit, there will be series of panel discussions where important issues will be discussed and shared among participants. The topics of the discussions include ‘Winning Strategies’, ‘Let’s Help The Passenger’ and ‘Accommodating New Markets’. By attending this Summit, it is hoped that Brunei Darussalam including other airline operators will have the opportunity to learn from experts/leaders in the aviation sector some of the known strategies necessary for ensuring incumbent airline operators to remain competitive in the aviation business and also on how to accommodate new markets.

Day two (2) of the Summit will involve an Asian Aerospace 2006 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony which will exhibit collection of airplanes of various kinds. Here Brunei Darussalam’s interest would be to witness some of the latest commercial airplanes that are already in operation.

During the Summit, Brunei Darussalam will also have the opportunity to exchange ideas with other ASEAN Transportation Ministers as well as arrange bilateral meetings with its counterparts to discuss related matters.