30th IRU World Congress Dubai, UAE 14-16 March 2006

Congress Highlights - Closing Ceremony - Paul Laeremans

Paul Laeremans, IRU President
Closing Ceremony
Dubai, 16 March 2006

Excellencies, Dear IRU Members, Dear Participants, Dear Friends,

Well done and thank you!

Dear Organising Committee, friends and participants, you have succeeded brilliantly in meeting our challenge! This has been a truly magnificent and interesting IRU World Congress.

For the tireless efforts required to make this first IRU World Congress in the Emirates, and indeed in the Middle East, a great and unforgettable event, I would like once again to say a heartfelt thank you to all our friends from the Emirates, and in particular to

His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Government Sector Development of the United Arab Emirates,
to
His Excellency Salem Ali Al Zaabi, Assistant Undersecretary, Land & Marine Affairs, Ministry of Development for Government Sector and Chairman of the Congress Organising Committee, UAE
to
Mr Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director, Dubai World Trade Centre and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee,
and to
Mr Hamad Ali Al Mazroui, Managing Director of the IRU’s Member Association, the International Automobile Club of the United Arab Emirates.

May I also offer my special thanks to Zürich, who has been a highly appreciated IRU partner in this major world event.

Dear Friends, what can we conclude from our proceedings?

The numerous presentations and debates held here in Dubai have confirmed in a convincing manner that the congress theme was absolutely right: “Road Transport, IS the Vital Link to Progress!”

After this Congress, the task for all of us from now on is to do everything possible to integrate in the mindsets of political decision makers, the media, citizens and our clients that road transport is the vital link to progress everywhere – in developed as well as in emerging economies.

However, as witnessed these last few days, our common task of persuasion remains, without doubt, a great one!

It is therefore the duty of the IRU, together with the IRU international network of experienced and competent members, to develop and make clearly known the vital link to progress provided by road transport as well as the legislative adjustments required to encourage the development of such progress in every country. It is also our duty to take the lead in implementing the requested, efficient proactive transport policy, in partnership with governments, and in promoting, by all available means – including mutual cooperation and marketing on Internet – the vital high quality transport services provided by our sector.

While doing so, in compliance with the spirit and principles of the UN’s Agenda 21, the Kyoto Convention, the IRU’s own Charter and the IRU 3 “i” strategy, we, as true professionals, should also integrate into road transport policy the requirements for achieving better productivity in order to have BETTER transport, not MORE transport.

Indeed, decision makers should never forget that at-source measures, with the full support of the IRU, are far more efficient in effectively reducing vehicle fuel consumption, emissions and accidents than any prohibition or restriction on vehicle movement. Moreover, such a penalty on the use of road vehicles results in an even greater penalty on environmental goals and socio-economic development.

This is why, with the introduction of the best available technologies and practice, the IRU’s slogan, “working together for a better future” continues to be the pillar and the prerequisite for progress, for each and every one of us, in all our relations with governments, decision makers, clients, civil society, partners and other modes of transport.

Today, the globalisation process – together with the enormous differences between national economies with regard to knowledge, the availability of raw materials and social costs – will lead to a dramatic increase not only in trade and transport, but also in specific customer demand and competition.

In this context, it is vital for each of us and for each of our organisations, who are very much involved in trade and transport, to wake up and monitor carefully – if need be in cooperation with governments – the fundamental shift and the current changes taking place in the way people are doing business.

In such highly competitive market conditions, in the midst of difficulties, it is the task of every entrepreneur to seek and to seize the best opportunities. This is why, in this competitive market, the creation of added value – including in the supply chain – is becoming so complex that no single company, no single association, no single fleet operator, no single vocational training institute will be able to achieve this efficiently alone.

The task of forging its diverse communities into a highly efficient professional road transport sector can only happen for owner-drivers, for small and medium size companies as well as for big conglomerates, under the umbrella of the IRU and its network of member associations. Both need to work together, day after day, in a pragmatic partnership with the other transport modes and with sister industries such as vehicle manufacturers, shippers, road builders, research institutes and, last but not least, governments and authorities which are responsible for ensuring the increasing demand in transport and mobility. A lack of recognition of our role or a lack of real business incentives would not only restrict progress in our profession but would also penalise society as a whole.

The interesting exchanges at this Congress have also confirmed that the remaining artificial barriers to trade and tourism must be pulled down. I have also taken note that speakers and delegates from the United Arab Emirates, the USA, China, the European Union and South America have demonstrated a wide consensus about the importance of reinforcing the human factor to ensure progress in our highly competitive road transport sector.

I am therefore pleased to confirm that this fully justified demand for improving education, vocational training and professional skills can be best met if each of us pays special attention to the possibility of joining the growing activities of the IRU Academy and of its Accredited Training Institutes around the world, which day after day already provide all their graduates with high quality training and international recognition of their professionalism.

During this congress – in the presence of the highest personalities of OPEC – a topic that really goes to the heart of our industry was also discussed: soaring fuel prices and the underlying lack of a sustainable energy policy in almost all the oil-consuming countries.

In today’s increasingly competitive and globalised economy, road transport has become a vital production tool and hence not only the vital link to progress but also the engine of economic development.

While providing this irreplaceable service, it is recognised that commercial road transport is, and will remain, on a short as well as a long term basis, 100% dependent on oil. As mentioned again during this Congress, the road transport industry has no economically viable alternative to fossil fuel. However, despite the major role played by oil, not only in the road transport sector but in all economic activities, it is shocking to observe that while almost all governments have introduced a very severe fiscal policy on oil consumption – and in particular on the fuel used by the road transport sector – up to now, almost none has put in place a truly efficient energy policy. It is therefore our duty to take action to make sure that governments put in place the requested efficient sustainable energy policy to ensure that our children’s children can still benefit from oil, which is increasingly called “black gold”.

Based on the various statements, the cornerstone of such an energy policy should be the diversification of use of energy sources in all domains where economic alternatives to oil already exist. Such an energy policy should be implemented in all oil-consuming countries, on the one hand by increasing taxes on the use of oil where such viable alternatives exist – for example in the production of heating, electricity, steel, cement and paper – and on the other hand, where no alternatives exist – such as in road transport – by adapting taxes on oil, gasoline and diesel fuel, to stabilise prices.

The road transport industry has taken its responsibility in sustainable development and invested heavily in vehicles representing the latest fuel efficient vehicle technology. Now it is up to governments to take appropriate action to implement a true energy policy aimed at stabilising the price of the fuel used by these road vehicles by diversifying the oil market and by promoting fuel efficient vehicles through effective incentives, as the IRU has requested for many years.

***

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Participants,

Transport operators will have to continue their never ending efforts to further increase the efficiency and productivity of their operations, building on the traditional creativity which has always been present in our profession.

Let us be proud of working for road transport which is the vital link to progress!! Let us perform our services to the benefit of society at the highest possible level and to the benefit of fleet operators! By doing so, you can be sure that the future belongs to us!

Thank you.

***

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Participants, Dear Friends, may I now ask the Secretary General to join me on stage for the signing of the IRU Dubai Declaration which, with these conclusions, reflects your contribution.

May I ask those who wish to sign the English text to line up on Mr Marmy’s side of the stage and those who want to sign the French version to line up on my side of the stage.

I want to stress that while we call on all of road transport's governmental and commercial partners to play their part in meeting the targets set in the Dubai Declaration, we who sign it, pledge to a renewed contract with society as a whole to provide efficient, high quality road transport services.

We have seen that such services will be crucial if we are to permit economic growth and employment through the facilitation of road transport as a production tool, through road transport for the development of trade and tourism, and through road transport as the vital link to progress, peace, environmental protection, international integration and the mobility of passengers and goods in all countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me conclude by stating that by working together we will achieve a better future for all!

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