Singapore - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) honoured Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew with its Global Aviation Leadership Award (GALA) for his role in helping to shape air transport.
Established in 2002, the IATA GALA commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight and is given to outstanding individuals for exceptional contributions that have helped shape air transport.
"Minister Mentor Lee's unique vision and leadership founded one of our industry's strongest carriers and most efficient airports. This became a shining example of how aviation-with effective government policies-has played an important role in building the foundations of a country respected for its efficiency and economic achievements," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general and CEO.
"His unwavering commitment to liberalisation and free market principles was ahead of its time in 1972. These are principles that are critical to the industry's development even today. We need more leaders with Minister Mentor's vision and deep understanding of aviation and the economic benefits that it catalyses," said Bisignani.
Bisignani added that MM Lee's drive to make sure the airline was competitive and self-supporting or be shut down helped shaped SIA into a commercial success without government assistance.
MM Lee is only the third GALA recipient. The first was awarded in 2003 to Dr Assad Kotaite for his service as the International Civil Aviation Organisation council president for over 30 years. The second was awarded in 2005 to Minister Yang Yuanyuan of the Civil Aviation Administration of China for his vision and leadership on progressive liberalisation in aviation.
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