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

  • ITS World Congress preliminary programme and registration now online
    June 8, 2015
    The preliminary programme of the 22nd ITS World Congress is now available online. In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies and three Plenary Sessions, highlights of this year’s event include the Ministerial Roundtable, two high-level technology summits, three general public sessions and a public afternoon open to all. Download the programme for details of the interactive timetable, sessions, speakers, social and associated events and the more than 20 demonstrations that are planned during the Co
  • ULEZ: is it the best way to tackle air quality?
    August 31, 2023
    Issues of equity and economics need to considered in London's ultra-clean air zone expansion
  • C/AV planning turns to business cases, says DfT
    July 9, 2019
    Darren Capes, DfT ITS lead, said projects are working on the business case to understand the benefits of C/AV technologies and what the issues may be. He was speaking at the ITS (UK) Connected Vehicle Forum in Birmingham, where Zenzic - an organisation created by the UK government to accelerate self-driving technology - explained its roadmap to 2030 implementation, summarising co-ordination efforts and project management. If efforts are not coordinated, it may take another 50 years for the technolog
  • Intertraffic Mexico 2022: better & safer road infrastructure urgently needed
    October 10, 2022
    Road safety organisation Anasevi highlights key issues for Intertraffic Mexico event