Skip to main content

Transport Ministers declare determination to improve global connectivity

“Seamless transport is a powerful and ambitious strategic vision for the future of transport systems,” Transport Ministers from 53 member countries stated in a common declaration agreed at the annual Summit of the International Transport Forum on Seamless Transport: Making Connections in Leipzig, Germany. Seamless transport, the declaration says, “drives the development of better mobility and sustainable economic growth”.
May 4, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSS“Seamless transport is a powerful and ambitious strategic vision for the future of transport systems,” Transport Ministers from 53 member countries stated in a common declaration agreed at the annual summit of the 998 International Transport Forum on Seamless Transport: Making Connections in Leipzig, Germany. Seamless transport, the declaration says, “drives the development of better mobility and sustainable economic growth”.

In their declaration, the Ministers also emphasised that sustainable transport systems are important for economic prosperity, environmental protection, safety and security of society.

“The International Transport Forum once again underlined that it is the worldwide, leading platform to discuss transport issues,” said Michael Kloth, acting secretary-general of the International Transport Forum. “We are glad about the commitment of our member countries to cooperate even closer to reduce inefficiencies at the seams between transport modes, jurisdictions, systems, sectors and countries. In this way, the transport sector can become a real driver for economic growth.”

At the Summit, Ministerial Roundtables with selected participants also discussed the issues of piracy at sea, cruise ship safety, volcanic ash clouds and the future of the car. Three of these Ministerial Roundtables issued Joint Statements which were noted by the Ministerial meeting and were annexed to the declaration.

The Ministerial meeting also welcomed Chile, the first country from South America joining the global transport policy body, as the 54th member country of the International Forum.

In their meeting, Ministers also elected Professor Jose Manuel Viegas from Portugal as secretary-general-elect of the Forum. Viegas is expected to take up his office this summer, taking over from acting secretary-general Michael Kloth.

The International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental organisation within the OECD family that acts as a global transport policy think tank. The annual Summit included a Ministerial meeting, panel discussions with leaders from business, research and civil society as well as bilateral and informal meetings.

Headlined “Funding Transport”, the next Summit of the International Transport Forum is scheduled to take place 22-24 May in Leipzig.

For a full programme and videos of key events at this year’s Forum, visit www.internationaltransportforum.org/2012

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Scania’s intelligent cruise control system wins German environmental prize
    July 6, 2012
    The German motorist organisation Automobil Kraftfaher-Schutz (KS) has awarded Scania its Energy and Environmental Prize for 2012 for its intelligent cruise control system, Scania Active Prediction. The system uses GPS in order to determine the vehicle's position and to predict the topography of the road ahead.
  • Report forecasts growth in global markets for intelligent transportation systems
    November 1, 2012
    A new report by information service provider Global Information says that intelligent transportation systems (ITS) improve public transport and traffic management to reduce traffic congestion, promote smoother and safer driving and improve coordinate and overall smarter use of transport networks. The development of intelligent infrastructures – from roads to bridges – is primarily a governmental responsibility while the domain of developing intelligent vehicles belongs to the commercial side. Both private a
  • TomTom launches speed camera app for iPhone
    May 8, 2012
    TomTom in Europe has releases a speed camera app for the iPhone, Powered by European driving community with 1.6 million drivers in 15 countries, the app informs drivers of their speed, the speed limit, the type of camera ahead and the remaining distance to reach it. A colour-coded warning system quickly and effectively alerts users if they need to slow down.
  • Ministers to urge use of ‘drive safe’ modes for mobile phones
    December 20, 2016
    An informal meeting in Whitehall is due to take place early in 2017, according to the Guardian, in which ministers and officials will tell mobile companies that ‘drive safe’ modes, similar to the airplane mode that has become standard, must be included in basic software ahead of a broader crackdown on illegal mobile phone use on the roads. In spring 2017, the fixed penalty for using a mobile phone while driving without a hands-free device will double to US$248 (£200). The fixed penalty notice will increa