Opening Ceremony - Eng. Mr Masoud Khonsari

IRU XXVIII^th World Congress
Under the Patronage of the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu

Opening Ceremony

H.E. Minister of Transport and Head of Transport and Terminals Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Eng. Mr Masoud Khonsari

Mr chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed Colleagues,

I would like to offer gratitude on behalf of I.R.I. Government and all the professionals involved in transport industry of my respective country for the opportunity provided to participate and deliver a speech at IRU Congress and wish that this congress would render constructive achievements on co-operation and convergence as well as on growth and development of sustainable transport for all participating states and IRU members.

Distinguished Guests,

Thriving technological growth, prevalent development of transport and communication network, transposition of economic structures and production processes and finally the flourishing trend on globalisation have revealed necessities for convergence and mutual cooperation between diversified and worldwide nations and states than ever before and in this context transportation as a fundamental infrastructure for development of economic, trade and cultural affairs between nations plays vital and pivotal role.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this connection and with regard to appropriate and outstanding geographic status of the territory of my respective country in Asia-Europe transit, I would like to present a brief report. Trilateral agreement or ninth corridor (North-South corridor) were exchanged between Iran, India and Russia in order to reduce travel time and expenditure between Indian Ocean sphere and Northern Europe which in this context at the ministerial level meeting of the founding members of the aforesaid corridor which were held in Saint Petersburg a few days ago, the request of five new countries namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and Belarussia to accede to this agreement were principally agreed upon, which will become finalised in the coming month whilst several other countries have announced their willingness for accession. Utilisation of this new corridor will offer the possibility to considerably reduce travel time and expenditure between Indian Ocean sphere, Southern-South-eastern Asian states and Russia, Northern Europe which hopefully regarding the undertaken planning procedures it will be accordingly exploited at deserving level on Asia-Europe transport.

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the context of forming convergence, cooperation and growth and development of sustainable international transport especially in Asia-Europe sphere in general and North-south Corridor in particular an International Seminar through collaboration of I.R.I organisations in charge of customs as well as road, rail, waterway and airway transport and under sublime patronage of IRU, UIC and IAPH will be held in Tehran on 11 and 12 June 2002.

In this forum which the responsible authorities of nearly 30 countries and a great number of organisations, companies and international transport operators from diversified Asian and European states will participate, magnificent opportunity for convergence and attraction of mutual cooperation between international transport authorities will be duly provided.

This forum will elaborate on the following item for two days:

• Policy making and procedures, rules and regulations
• Private sector investment and participation
• Marketing and customers
• Transport infrastructures and facilities
• Multimodal transport agents
• Travel and tourism facilitations

Whilst reinviting all the esteemed invitees I hope through active presence and participation in this forum, international convergence and cooperation on Asia-Europe transport would be duly provided.

Mr Chairman, Esteemed audience,

At the end and in line with promotion of transport affairs I am honoured to announce that Tehran will host IRU Asia-Europe 2^nd International conference and will be privileged to host high-ranking authorities and esteemed in graceful and historical city of Tehran in 2003.

Wishing success as well as positive and constructive achievements for IRU 28^th World Congress and extending gratitude towards esteemed Romanian government authorities and organisers of the Congress for rendering genuine reception.

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