The Congress celebrates connectivity and driving change for sustainability
The need for driving change for sustainability, connected and automated vehicles and road safety were among the topics addressed at the recently concluded 26th World Road Congress.
Continuing the momentum of high-level discussions over a five day-period, hundreds of international delegates including thought-leaders, engineers and academics gathered to reflect back on the success of the Congress as a major step was taken in reshaping the future of the roads sector worldwide.
During the closing ceremony, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, outlined that the important discussions that took place during the Congress’ duration.
“Under our theme ‘Connecting Cultures and Enabling Economies’, we have seen people connect not just through roads but also through intellectual communication. This showed Abu Dhabi has succeeded in hosting a successful World Road Congress,” he observed.
Claude Van Rooten, President, World Road Congress, took to the stage to explain the World Road Association’s Strategic Plan for 2020-2023. He emphasised on the importance of Congress’ mission by discussing and sharing knowledge on roads and transport policies and practice and integrating a sustainable transport system.
“Road administration, mobility, safety and sustainability and resilient infrastructure are the four strategic themes that the World Road Congress will focus on during the next four years,” he noted.
According to Mansoor Salem Al Mehairi, Project Manager for the World Road Congress Abu Dhabi 2019 and Director, PR & Communication, Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT), the Congress welcomed more than 3,000 delegates from 144 countries and 45 ministers with over 400 formal speaking engagements and senior bilateral meetings taking place.
A delegation from the Czech Republic flew into Abu Dhabi and personally invited the delegates to the 27th World Road Congress which will be held in 2023 in the capital Prague.
