IRU’s message at the EU business forum in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, was clear: impactful road transport reform requires strong cooperation among development partners, institutions and the private sector.
This week’s EU Regional Business Forum on West Africa Corridors convened over 400 participants, including international financial institutions, West African transport ministers, regional organisations, and the private sector.
Within the EU Global Gateway, the GGSP-CALAO Initiative – a broader EU-funded regional development programme in West Africa – promotes improved regulation, professionalisation and greener transport systems, particularly along the Abidjan–Lagos and Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridors.
IRU’s participation in the forum included a technical side-event workshop on transport facilitation along the two corridors with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (EU DG INTPA), Enabel, EU delegations, Expertise France, SSATP, TradeMark Africa, and the World Bank.
The workshop took place within the framework of the EU DG INTPA–IRU Modernising Road Transport Project, which seeks to strengthen facilitation, digitalisation and greener transport systems globally and along specific corridors.
“Road transport reform requires strong cooperation and alignment among development partners, institutions and the private sector,” said IRU Director of Certification and Standards Patrick Philipp. “Only in this way can road transport effectively contribute to economic and social development, avoid fragmentation, and maximise impact.”
IRU also highlighted the importance of using practical, internationally recognised guidelines for reforming road transport.
The joint IRU–World Bank road transport sector reform guidelines, with the contribution of SSATP, provide a comprehensive reference framework to support governments and stakeholders in implementing sustainable, efficient and safe road transport systems.
By fostering dialogue and partnerships, IRU reaffirms its commitment to helping build modern, resilient and inclusive road transport sectors that facilitate trade and regional integration.