The Symposium was held at a venue in the heart of London. This one day event covered the aspects of Private-Public-Partnerships (PPPs) in Air Transportation and the Financial Investors.
During the First Session, titled PPPs in Air Transportation, Keigan Cox, General Manager and CEO of St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority presented the case of St. Lucia’s PPP process outlining the benefits and potential investment opportunities at St. Lucia and its airports. Brad Miller, Corporate Development Director, Manchester Airport Group, referred to the challenges Manchester Airport Group are facing, as the ownership structure of the airports they manage varies significantly. Michelle Ottey, Investment Officer, IFC, Eliot Lees, Vice President, ICF International and Muneer Ferozie, Regional Manager MENA addressed some of the projects they have been involved with, stressed the critical issues that have to be taken into consideration which lead into a fruitful and constructive discussion with the audience.
The Second Session, titled PPPs and the Financial Investors highlighted the financial aspects of a PPP process, by giving examples and case studies from leading Investors and airport representatives...
Muneer Ferozie from IFC gave a keynote address on the challenges and opportunities of private participation in infrastructure in emerging markets which was followed by presenting the cases of six airport PPPs which are currently ongoing. It seems that PPPs are a softer approach towards privatization.Catherine Gonzales, Undersecretary, Department of Transportation and Communication, Philippines,
Joseph Tupiri, Managing Director and CEO, National Airports Company, Papua New Guinea
Leonardo Montiel Pizarro, Director of Finance, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Chile
Luis Miguel Aguirre Martinez, President, National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, DINAC, Paraguay
Martha Seiller, Director, Regulation and Competition, Civil Aviation, Brazil
Nazareno Ventola, Managing Director, Aeroporto G. Marconi di Bologna.
The six cases presented were voted against several criteria by the public and a discussion opened about each case with questions and answers on each case. There were several questions from the floor moderated by Dr Kostas Iatrou, Managing Director Air Transport News. The participants were also asked several questions regarding the content of the cases presented in order to select the most attractive ones and highlight those needed attention in order to make presentations more attractive.
The Symposium concluded with a book presentation by the World Bank titled: “Ready for Take off” written by Dr. Charles Schlumberger, Lead Air Transport Specialist, World Bank and Nora Weisskopf, Air Transport Specialist, World Bank. Professor Rigas Doganis moderated the session, outlining the book as an excellent read, Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World also commented on the book published by the World Bank and Tony Davis, CEO, Grupo Viva suggested that the book gives a good insight on the challenges that a potential LCC might face.
