The 31st IRU World Congress and joint Ministerial meeting concluded on May 16 that road transport can drive peace and prosperity along the Silk Road, provided that political priority is given to removing the many procedural barriers to trade and road transport along its route.
The IRU Istanbul Congress Declaration, adopted unanimously today by all participants, highlighted the need for governments to “Promote road transport by providing the adequate infrastructure and implementing the required multilateral facilitation instruments to permit the interconnection of businesses in all world markets as no country is landlocked to road transport”.
IRU Secretary General, Martin Marmy, said, “This IRU Congress and Ministerial Conference has clearly demonstrated the huge potential of the human and natural resources of the Euro-Asian landmass, where two thirds of the world’s population not only live but above all work, produce, trade and transport... With the reopening of the Silk Road to modern road transport, it is possible, without spending one cent on infrastructure, to put an end to the current desertification of trade in too many countries, resulting from the concentration of the bulk of world trade in only a few major ports.”
The Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 25 Transport Ministers who attended the joint Ministerial Conference, underlined their decision to: Accede to, implement and enhance UN Conventions on international road transport; Implement the WTO rules in respect of the freedom of transit, simplification of documents, rationalisation of charges and taxes; Do away with all restrictions on the free flow of transit traffic; Improve conditions of border crossing; Facilitate visa delivery to professional drivers; and Develop and support new approaches to improving and promoting the image of road transport, which is an irreplaceable mode for the creation and the distribution of wealth of all nations.
IRU President, Janusz Lacny concluded by saying that, “The numerous presentations and debates during this IRU Congress and Ministerial Conference have confirmed unequivocally that “Road Transport, IS Driving Peace and Prosperity!”  Thus, any barrier on road transport will impede our industry from carrying out this vital and irreplaceable function.  As such, Governments should review their efforts to promote rather than penalise the development of road transport, if they wish to achieve the sustainable development of their economies and societies”.