The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry with its release to the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO). The Registry, now live under CADO management, will enable a global market for SAF that will accelerate the transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

“Aviation’s decarbonization is a team effort. In releasing the SAF Registry to CADO for launch, we have put in place a critical platform for the benefit of all stakeholders. It ensures that all airlines in the world have access to SAF and that their SAF purchases can be claimed against any climate-related obligations in this domain. The Registry will record the environmental attributes of SAF purchases in an immutable way, safeguarding against double counting. Airlines, their corporate customers, fuel producers, regulatory bodies, and all related organizations will be able to record and account for their SAF transactions in a global market for SAF. While this is of fundamental importance and a historically momentous advance, it is but one step along the way to a mature, transparent, and liquid global SAF market. The Registry cannot produce miracles on its own, but without it, no miracles can be produced.

Further progress requires active policy support for the ramping-up of all renewable energy production, and for SAF within that production. Governments must reallocate their direct support given to fossil fuel producers in favor of renewable energy production. The precedent of the wind and solar energy markets is the example to follow, and this without any further delay,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.

The SAF Registry is a global system to record SAF transactions in a standardized and transparent way. It ensures that the environmental benefits of SAF can be tracked as they move across the SAF value chain and enable the claiming of these against regulatory obligations and voluntary schemes by airlines and corporate customers.

The Registry helps solve the challenge of limited SAF supply —which is acutely scarce and available in only a few locations globally —by connecting airlines with SAF producers and suppliers, regardless of their geographical location. In addition, it gives airlines’ corporate customers access to in-sector emissions reductions and capitalizes on firms’ capacity to co-finance the cost of decarbonization.

The SAF Registry is technology and feedstock neutral, favoring the emergence of diverse SAF production streams across the world. It will be able to accommodate specific regulations, while favoring global harmonization. Moreover, interoperability with other registries is an important feature of the Registry, supporting competition and open markets.

The Registry was developed in consultation with airlines, government authorities, OEMs, fuel producers and suppliers, and corporate travel management companies. With over 30 early users (see appendix) already in the process of onboarding and ready to use the system, the Registry is underpinned by the IATA SAF Accounting and Reporting Methodology which provides a consistent approach to accounting for the environmental benefits of SAF purchases, regardless of location. 

Participation in the SAF Registry will be free until April 2027, after which it will be operated on a cost recovery basis.

The second edition of the Djibouti Forum is set to take place from April 6 to 8, 2025, bringing together influential leaders in finance and industry from over 50 countries. Hosted by the Fonds Souverain de Djibouti (Sovereign Wealth Fund of Djibouti), this exclusive gathering aims to catalyze investments across Africa, highlighting the Horn of Africa’s pivotal role in driving regional growth and development.

The Djibouti Forum 2025 is designed to connect Africa’s financial and business community, guiding them in seizing the continent’s growing commercial and investment opportunities. Dr. Slim Feriani, CEO of the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Djibouti, emphasized the strategic importance of Djibouti as a hub for facilitating partnerships in the region. “Djibouti, situated at the intersection of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, is the ideal strategic partner for our region’s growth and development,” he noted.

The event will host financiers managing over $2 trillion in assets, with strong participation from sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and leading development finance institutions. These include the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the African Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the African Finance Corporation, the Trade and Development Bank, and Afreximbank.

The Forum will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Sidi Ould Tah, President of BADEA; Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization at the AfDB; Admassu Tadesse, President and Managing Director of the Trade and Development Bank Group; and Aminu Umar-Sadiq, CEO of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.

Key themes will include exploring future economic megatrends and their impact on the continent, the role of African multilateral development banks in driving growth, and strategies to enhance trade routes and connectivity within Africa and with global markets. The Forum will also delve into the transformative role of energy in economic growth and sustainability, digital transformation, and the expansion of the tourism sector across Africa and the Middle East.

Djibouti’s strategic location at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia makes it a critical player in global trade. Its ports serve as vital links in international shipping routes, facilitating commerce between continents. The country’s stable political environment and robust infrastructure make it an attractive destination for investment.

Djibouti’s Vision 2035 outlines a comprehensive plan to diversify its economy, focusing on sectors such as logistics, energy, telecommunications, and tourism. This vision positions Djibouti as a key commercial, logistics, port, and digital hub.

The Djibouti Forum 2025 aims to foster meaningful discussions and catalyze new investments across Africa. It will provide a platform for investors to explore unparalleled opportunities in energy, ports and logistics, hospitality, and financial services. The event is expected to drive impactful discussions and meaningful collaborations among the 400 international and regional high-level delegates attending.