(Phnom Penh): Mao Havannall, Minister-in-Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia signed an Open Skies Air Transport Agreement with Christopher Landau, United States Deputy Secretary of State, at 3 p.m. (US time) on Monday (Jun. 30) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Washington D.C., USA, to advance the two countries' bilateral aviation cooperation, according to a press release seen Fresh News on Wednesday (Jul. 1).

This Agreement is the first bilateral air transport agreement between the two countries and will bring the civil air transportation relationship between Cambodia and the United States to the highest modern standards.

This milestone follows Corporation's (US International Development Finance Corporation - DFC's) recent approval of a USD 100 million Letter of Intent to support financing for Cambodia's new Techo International Airport (KTI) in Phnom Penh, underscoring the growing breadth of the Cambodia - US commercial relationship.

Open Skies agreements allow air carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, promoting tourism and commerce sectors.

This Agreement also enables all-cargo seventh-freedom traffic rights, allowing carriers to operate between the United States and a third country without an operational nexus to Cambodia.

The conclusion of this Open Skies Agreement is to open markets and deliver results for all Cambodian and American businesses, workers, and travelers. Under Prime Minister Hun Manet's leadership, Cambodia remains committed to expanding its international civil aviation cooperation with partner countries by pursuing additional air transport agreements and strengthening existing bilateral aviation frameworks.
=FRESH NEWS