Binali YILDIRIM
Minister of Transport of Turkey

Welcome address

Your Excellency Prime Minister,
Esteemed Ministers,
Distinguished Bureaucrats,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to greet you all at the presence of His Excellency the Prime Minister and I would like to welcome you to the IRU Congress as well as to the Ministerial Conference on the Revival of the Silk Road. Within this connection, first of all, I would like to thank the representatives of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) which makes a great contribution to the development of road transport, and representatives of other organisations for their contributions to the organisation of this full and vivid Congress. Furthermore, I would like also to express my pleasure for these two important events being held in Istanbul, which have a great intercontinental significance for world trade.

Your Excellency Prime Minister,
Esteemed Ministers,
Distinguished Participants,

Today huge developments are being witnessed in terms of globalisation, accordingly the importance of the transport sector is gaining impetus and has transformed into a different dimension.

In today’s world where borders have not remained important and competition has gained ground, preserving the dynamics of world trade and supplying the increasing trade volume is no doubt directly related to the investments to be made in the field of transport, because it is impossible to keep trade dynamic without establishing a strong and uninterrupted infrastructure and a transport industry which serves a sustainable transport.

The ultimate situation in road transport, in parallel with increasing trade volume, as well as the economy, has brought forth that we cannot live solely and creep into our own skin. Especially in the 21st century where the global trends are the basic determiners, we do not have the choice of closing our doors to one another. The economies and the subsidiary sectors become so interdependent that the inevitable result of this is the need to enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation. And this may only be realised through developing regional and international integration, determining our common objectives and making joint investments.

Your Excellency Prime Minister,
Distinguished Participants,

Just like all other modes of transport, in the road transport sector massive developments have been witnessed in the last 20 years. The fact that this mode of transport, which enables a door-to-door, non-stop and fast delivery, keeps its share among modes of transport and in fact is increasing this share, makes investments to be made in the sector much more important. In this context, these investments should serve a fast, comfortable, safe and sustainable transport concept to serve social prosperity and peace.

Without a shadow of doubt, the integrated transport corridors and seamless transport facilities to be prepared within this context, will be conducive to closer social and cultural interactions which will contribute to social peace.

Today, visa requirements, waiting times at borders, formalities, any sort of limitations applied to the free circulation of goods, persons and services have adverse affects not only on the transport industry but also on social and cultural interaction. Hence, abolishing barriers on road transport, which plays a significant role in economic development and welfare, will stimulate world peace and improvement of social prosperity. We should bear in mind that improvement of the welfare of our people depends on stabilisation among our regions and economic and social development combined with a seamless transport between our countries and regions.

Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The prime target of Turkish foreign policy is to develop regional and international cooperation for peace and welfare. “Peace at home, peace in the world”, the principle of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and our national leader, has been preserved as an indispensable element of the history of the Turkish Republic for 85 years. Turkey is willing to maintain this policy with all its neighbours and all other countries.

I would like to once more welcome you all to our country by expressing my pleasure in hosting all my colleagues and all the delegates of the countries who are participating in the Ministerial Conference to be held today and tomorrow on the Revival of the Silk Road.

Thank you.

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