Agadir – Morocco is hosting the The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2026 summit, running from 14 to 16 April in Marrakech, becoming the first African country to host the event.
The event brings together ministries, directorates general of civil aviation, international and regional organizations, and high-level participants representing the aviation industry and service providers to strengthen aviation systems and global cooperation.
“This event will be generously hosted by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom. It will bring together States, international organizations, and industry partners to share solutions and strengthen the implementation of the ICAO’s strategic plan, standards, and other key aviation policies and plans worldwide,” said the Secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization Juan Carlos Salazar
GISS summit provides a global platform for sharing solutions, conducting partnerships, and advancing sustainable aviation through strengthened implementation efforts aligned with ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative.
This initiative aims to include all countries, not only the most developed ones, to apply the same aviation safety, security, and environmental standards set by ICAO.
According to ICAO, Aviation safety and security is achieved through reducing “implementation gaps” between developed and developing countries, supporting countries to address safety concerns and oversight weaknesses and promoting more sustainable and efficient air transport systems worldwide.
Salazar noted that the summit is an opportunity to join the “momentum towards achieving zero fatality in air services and net-zero carbon emissions flights worldwide.”
He added that this edition is under the theme ‘Regional Solutions, Global Benefits’, which aims to deepen cooperation towards “achieving this vision, as agreed by States through the ICAO long-term strategic plan for 2050”.
Salazar further shared that the summit will include interactive panels, networking opportunities, and a dedicated donor dialogue with a matchmaking component to spark new partnership opportunities.
“We will also focus on infrastructure needs and effective safety and security oversight. And we will have a dedicated ministerial roundtable discussion to explore how resource mobilization can better support States by identifying needs, setting priorities, and engaging donors,” he concluded.
Morocco’s selection to host this event is attributed to its “strategic position linking Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world, as well as its advanced infrastructure, through ports and airports, whose capacity will increase from 40 to 80 million passengers by 2030, in addition to high-speed trains… Morocco continues to consolidate its position as a regional hub for mobility, trade, and innovation,” said Abdessamad Kayouh, Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics.
