The Union Cabinet approves the signing of the India-Guiana Air Transport Agreement

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The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of an air transport agreement between India and Guyana that will pave the way for air services between the two countries.

The agreement will come into effect following the exchange of diplomatic notes between the parties confirming that each party has completed the necessary internal procedure for the pact’s entry into force.

“The signing of an air transport agreement with Guyana will enable a framework for the provision of air transport services between the two countries,” an official publication said on Wednesday.

The press release states that according to the 2012 census, Indians have a significant presence in Guyana and are the largest ethnic group, accounting for about 40% of the population.

The agreement will establish the legal framework for flight operations between two countries based on the principles of nations’ sovereignty, airline nationality and reciprocity in terms of commercial opportunities for the designated airlines of both sides, it added.

The signing of the aviation agreement between the two countries was approved by the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India and Guyana are signatories to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). The delegations representing India and Guyana met in Nassau, Bahamas on 6 December 2016 during the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event.

At that time, both countries had initiated the text of an air transport agreement for scheduled flight services between the two countries.

Currently, India has aviation agreements with around 110 countries.