IRU World Congress gathers industry and government leaders from around the world

Istanbul - The 31st IRU World Congress opened today, gathering close to 2000 road transport company CEOs and government decision-makers from some 70 countries.

Keynote speakers, including the President of the Republic of Turkey, Dr Abdullah Gül, the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the USSR (1990-1991), will join the participants from the 5 continents in addressing the IRU Congress theme, “Road Transport, Driving Peace and Prosperity”.

IRU President, Janusz Lacny opened the Congress stating that, “The theme of this Congress will give governmental authorities, policy makers, the media and the public at large, a better understanding of the exceptional and irreplaceable role played by road transport in interconnecting people and businesses in all countries and regions of the world.”  He went on to say that, “2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the IRU. Sixty years down the road, buses, coaches, taxis and trucks have not only become the drivers of trade and tourism around the world, but they have also become the engines of economic co-operation and social co-existence everywhere.”

The Minister of Transport of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Binali Yildirim will be hosting in parallel a Ministerial Conference in the framework of the IRU World Congress.  Transport Ministers from 30 countries will address how to revive the Great Silk Road.

The IRU World Congress and Ministerial Meeting are being complemented by a 7000m2 Exhibition of the latest technologies and services available to the road transport industry.

In his message to Congress participants, Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said, “Coaches, buses, taxis and trucks, provide for human mobility and economic activity in developed and developing countries alike.  Countries and communities that do not have adequate road networks or road transport systems are unable to grow economically or attract productive investment.  I share the slogan of the 31st World Congress of the IRU saying that road transport drives peace and prosperity.”                                                              

The IRU World Congress is organised in partnership with the IRU’s Turkish Member Associations, TOBB, TOFED and UND and Congress Partners, Zurich, Vialtis and Ingosstrakh. See Congress Highlights on www.iru.org  

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