From the 28-30, August 2011, about 250 stakeholders in the African aviation industry are expected to converge at the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for the 17th edition of the Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference. Participants will deliberate on difficulties and probable solutions to challenges facing aviation in Africa in order to make strong positive impact on the development of aviation in Africa.

This year's Conference comes at a time that Africa's aviation industry is in dire need of a turn-around. In this light, the theme for this year's Conference, "Air Transport In Africa: Strengthening Leadership, Sustaining Growth," will seek ways of creating this turn-around through strong leadership in Africa's air transport system, thereby helping to drive economic growth and development in Africa. Last year in Gaborone, Botswana, the 16th edition of the Conference had the theme: Air Transport In Africa: The Challenge of Leadership. And in Dar es Salaam this August, the Conference will extend the reaches of last year's efforts, making leadership development the centre-piece of air transport development in Africa.

Participants at this year's Conference will be decision-taking executives from aviation regulatory authorities of various African States, Ministers responsible for air transport, as well as participants from the private sector including airlines, airports, banks, insurance companies, among others. Representatives from international bodies like the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transport (DoT), amongst others, expected at this year's event will bring useful inputs in addressing international perspectives of some of Africa's challenges. This Conference is being organized by the Aviation & Allied Business Journal, Africa's leading publication on air transport development, working closely with the government of Tanzania through the Tanzania Transport Ministry, Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority. Other partners for the Conference include Precision Air and Swissport Tanzania. The excitement over this year's Conference is that it is expected to catalyse the pace of development in Africa's aviation industry in tune with current recovery trends in the industry and global economy.

The Conference will serve as a meeting point for new and old industry partners. Delegates will be given a treat with some of Tanzania's memorable tour sites especially the natural artistry of Tanzania's sprawling beaches and wildlife, to be spiced up with a good measure of Tanzanian cuisine. Another attraction of the Conference in Dar will be the annual Aviation & Allied Business Industry Awards, which will honour deserving individuals and organizations this year at a special night-out at the Movenpick Hotel, Tanzania.

Amidst emerging industry challenges, Africa awaits the best outcome from such major meetings to push its transformation. And delegates should make their presence in Dar count.