IRU was in Bangkok this week at UN meetings on best practices, global standards and road transport and transit facilitation tools in Thailand and beyond.
IRU Secretary General, Umberto de Pretto addressed the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESCAP) transport committee. He highlighted IRU activities on transport and transit facilitation in Asia, and the digitalisation of transport with tools such as TIR and e-CMR.
He met with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the new Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, to discuss areas for cooperation on transport and transit facilitation as well as on road safety, training and capacity building.
IRU also championed professional qualifications for the road transport sector, while driving decarbonisation and other issues related to sustainable transport.
Referring to recent developments in Asia, Mr de Pretto cited the accession and implementation of TIR in China, India and Pakistan and several capacity building activities in South and South East Asia. He also raised the prospect of Thailand’s accession to the TIR Convention and pushed for further cooperation on safety and training.
As a follow up to meetings in Geneva with the Thai delegation from the Department of Land Transport, Mr de Pretto met with the Thai Minister of Transport, Arkhom Termpittayapaisit to cement collaboration for the future.