'Road Transport: vital link to progress' theme for 2006 IRU World Congress in Dubai

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has announced that the theme of its 30th World Congress to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from March 14 to 16 2006, will be, “Road Transport, the vital link to progress”, reflecting the sector’s irreplaceable role in economic and social development, as well as environmental protection. This was announced by IRU President Paul Laeremans at the General Assembly of the IRU in Geneva.

The Congress will be staged in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Communications and UAE IRU Member Association, the International Automobile and Touring Club.

Mr Laeremans said, “The theme emphasises the sector’s irreplaceable role in economic and social development, as well as environmental protection. ‘Link’ also perfectly describes Dubai’s role as a principal interface between the Gulf region and the rest of the world and the extraordinary growth the city is experiencing in trade and tourism would not be possible without road transport.

“The development of different transport sectors is vital and plays a key role in driving economic integration and social development,” said UAE Minister of Transport Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri.

Underlining the tremendous progress made in the UAE road transport sector, Mr Al Mansouri said, “ the IRU World Congress in Dubai represents an ideal opportunity for highlighting the vital role road transport plays and its significance in the Middle East, which plays a vital role in the world economy. It will also contribute effectively in speeding up the development of the transportation networks in the region.”

The Ministry of Communications, UAE in association with International Automobile & Touring Club and the Dubai World Trade Centre will also be hosting the IRU Exhibition, which will be held alongside the World Congress. The two events will witness world industry experts and senior government officials drawing on the collective experience, knowledge and insight of its members which will go a long way in influencing government policies and help shape legal and regulatory instruments.

The IRU Exhibition will provide a live interactive platform for the industry specialists and key decision makers to study and select the appropriate products or services that facilitate the effective and sustainable mobility of people and goods. 

“DWTC is proud to have been chosen as the host venue for an event of the stature and significance of the IRU World Congress. As the leading meetings facility in the region, which has been the venue of choice for many of the leading events happening in the Middle East, the DWTC is happy to play a part in enhancing Dubai’s growing stature as a worldwide MICE destination,” said DWTC Director General Helal Saeed Khalfan Al Marri.

The Congress will feature the IRU’s uniquely dynamic format of interactive plenary sessions, in which senior decision makers will explore road transport’s role in providing mobility, in ensuring economic success, in allowing growth in trade and tourism, in linking logistic chains, in reducing emissions and in helping underdeveloped and crisis-affected regions.