2019 International Transport Forum Annual Summit

The International Transport Forum (ITF) is an intergovernmental organization within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The 60 member countries of the ITF support the forum’s activities and work as a think tank for transport policy. The ITF “organizes global dialogue for better transport” and “works for transport policies that improve peoples’ lives.” Their mission is to “foster a deeper understanding of the role of transport in economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion and to raise the public profile of transport policy.”

The ITF also organizes the Annual Summit of Transport Ministers, which was held last week in Leipzig, Germany. It is the world’s largest gathering of transport ministers and the leading global platform for dialogue on transport policy, according to the forum. The 2019 Summit focused on the topics of how better transport connectivity can help integrate regions and enable the achievement of economic, social, and environmental goals.

Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Akaki Saghirashvili, attended the summit. On Wednesday, an informal sub-meeting was held between the Transport Ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Member States – Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. During the sub-meeting, participants discussed regional transport, including the development of circular highways, maritime routes, and prospects for future, deeper cooperation. The conversation centered on “the importance of the BSEC’s permit system for promoting automobile transportation and trade between member countries,” reported the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. Georgia has been able to satisfy one of the first requirements of the 2016 "Quality Charter," which regulates the permits, said Saghirashvili, and is now working to revoke existing restrictions and to increase quotas.

The parties discussed further development of the permit system and the possibility of increasing the number of permits. The Ministry of Economy notes that “Georgian carriages actively use the BSEC permits, and by 2019, 1000 units allocated for the Georgian side have been fully utilized.”

Saghirashvili affirmed “the importance of the transport and trade potential of the Black Sea region and deepening of international cooperation in this regard,” and raised the topics of Georgia’s ongoing reforms, national priorities in the transport sector, infrastructure projects, and recent transport-related successes.

Deputy Minister Saghirashvili participated in a Ministers’ Roundtable on Wednesday, on the topic of Financing Infrastructure Connectivity. Other participants included ministers and deputy ministers from Colombia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Lithuania and France. During the roundtable, along with other issues, Saghirashvili spoke about Georgia's experience implementing large infrastructure projects and public and private cooperation reforms designed to improve the investment and business environment in the country and to promote cooperation between the state and private sector.

Saghirashvili also emphasized Georgia's progress with the EU and Asian countries, including the development of transport links with China. He invited the participants of the summit to the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum in October.

By Samantha Guthrie

Image source: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development