KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai has asserted that the rate of air accidents in the country has gown down due to adaptation of air safety measures.

Addressing the 40th session of ICAO’s assembly organized in Montreal of Canada, Minister Bhattarai explained that implementation of ICAO safety measures and upgrading of airports and keeping into account the weather factor for the operation of flights among others are the reasons behind decreasing number of air accidents.

He apprised the participants of the event about the Visit Nepal 2020 which aims to attract at least two million tourists in Nepal in 2020. He also extended an open invitation to the fellow participants to visit Nepal, according to the Secretariat of Minister Bhattarai.

Furthermore, the Minister informed about the priorities set by his line Ministry including ensuring air safety, expanding air network, upgradation of the airports and construction of international airports.

He also stated that Nepal was moving ahead hand-in-hand for collaboration with the European Air Safety Agencies to remove Nepal from the European Agency’s aviation safety list.

Representatives from ICAO’s 193 member nations and various organizations have convened in Montreal, ICAO’s headquarters, for the assembly that kicked off on September 24 and would last on October 4.

Representing Nepal in the assembly were Minister Bhattarai, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Suresh Acharya, Nepali Ambassador to Canada Bhrigu Dhungana and Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Rajan Pokharel among others.

On the sidelines of the event, Nepal is scheduled to sign an air service agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Talks with Australian side will also be held during the Summit to dwell on an air service agreement between the two countries.