2008-07-17Staff Report 2 By Staff Reporter WINDHOEK Namibia Airports Company Limited (NAC), and its South African counterpart Airports Company South Africa Limited (ACSA), have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU). The signing ceremony of the MoU took place last Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa. The agreement, which is the first of its kind between the two parties, represents a step towards the enhancement of networking amongst SADC airport companies. The MoU makes provision for NAC to acquire specialist knowledge, skills and services from ACSA. As part of the agreement, ACSA has urged the NAC to avail its staff to be involved during the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup at ACSA airports, as operational staff to be exposed to managing complex operational situations and people from diverse cultures and background. The two airport management companies further agreed to exchange professional experiences relating to development, operational and economic development issues and industry advancements of airports worldwide, to share insights and information as it relates to meeting the many challenges faced by world airports, to promote the expansion of safe, modern and efficient airports regionally, and to encourage exchanges among the two institutions by designating official channels for support in case of inquiries and visiting delegations. At the signing ceremony, NAC's Chief Executive Officer, Vemunjengua Kavari, stated that NAC strives to emulate experiences from fellow African airports like ACSA, while benchmarking itself with airports of comparable magnitude in the region and elsewhere in the world. On her part, ACSA's Managing Director Monhla Hlahla noted that airport operations, commercial/business and aviation services have proven to be core areas of focus for the successful management of ACSA airports. Hlahla is of the opinion that having the right people in the right positions is key to any organization's success and that the airport industry is no different. ACSA owns and manages nine airports and also manages a major airport through a concession in India. Amongst these is the best-rated international airport in Africa, the Oliver R Tambo International Airport (ORTIA). The South African airports company possesses specialized experience, know-how and skills in the establishment, operation and management of airport businesses. Master planning, design, traffic forecast, demand, capacity training and development, route/traffic development, human resources, other non-aeronautical activities and project finance form part of the overall areas of mutual cooperation. 2008-07-17Staff Report 2
