Landmark World Transport Industry Roadmap Signed As IRU World Congress Concludes

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     (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/781724/Muscat_Compact_IRU_World_Congress.jpg )

The Muscat Compact focuses on four key elements: talent, trade, environment and innovation. It spurs collective action and guides public-private collaboration at a local, national, regional and global level.

The Compact was discussed in a closed ministerial dialogue, examining how governments can work better with transport operators in supporting trade facilitation, building human capital, decarbonising and supporting innovation. Governments from 25 countries came together to plan a course of action to achieve industry objectives and global goals, notably as set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Muscat Compact was presented during the closing session by Emil Kaikiyev, Minister in charge of Energy and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Commission, who called for collaboration between the public and private sectors in taking transport, trade and mobility forward. He said, "IRU has long advocated an end to silo approaches, with harmonisation and shared global best practices. This is more important now than ever, as we face accelerated change and also significant opportunities. The Muscat Compact is the beginning of a new proactive era for transport, where we act together to design our future and we start building it."

Secretary General of IRU, Umberto de Pretto, added, "This is a defining moment for the industry. We can't predict the future, but we can forge our own destiny within it. The survival of the industry - of global prosperity - depends on it."

The Compact was one of many positive outcomes of the three-day global event, which saw global decision-makers come together to support transport operators in boosting trade facilitation, good regulation, digitalisation and intermodal efficiency. The final day of the Congress also explored avant-garde solutions from leading business figures who have successfully ridden the wave of disruption and prospered from innovation. André Borschberg, Co-Founder, CEO and Pilot of Solar Impulse expressed, "Innovation is all about pushing boundaries. It's about having the vision to see what existing technology can do and the expertise to bring that vision to reality. It's about having a license to fail, try again, fail again and eventually succeed. And it's about courage."  

Dr. Rand Hindi of Snips.ai, added, "This is what the digital revolution is all about. It's about using this artificial intelligence to make technology disappear in a way that you can just go about your day and not care about it anymore."

The round table sessions focused on autonomous road transport, responding to new challenges in urban mobility, and reaping the benefits of innovative practices that can generate new revenue streams and optimize resources. "After three decades of globalisation, many companies expect their supply chains to shorten in the years ahead. But while some manufacturing processes will migrate 'closer-to-home', speeding the shift towards regionalisation, numerous well established and finely tuned supply chains will remain in place, adapting to serve expanding local markets. For businesses, supply chains may be shrinking, but the era of complex supply chain ecosystems is still far from being over," said author, logistics expert and lecturer Mark Millar.

The IRU World Congress was organised by IRU and hosted by ASYAD in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Over 1,000 participants from more than 75 countries attended the three-day event.

IRU 

IRU is the world road transport organisation, promoting economic growth, prosperity and safety through the sustainable mobility of people and goods. Founded in 1948, IRU has members and activities in more than 100 countries. Its core constituents are national transport associations and transport operators, but it also works closely with business, governments, the UN and international organisations. IRU develops knowledge through training and the IRU Academy programme, builds networks via events, seminars and workshops all over the world, conducts advocacy and delivers services. From TIR, the world's only global customs transit system, and TRANSPark for drivers, to the digitalisation of logistics operations and bus, coach and taxi initiatives for the future of passenger transport, IRU is at the forefront of innovation in road mobility. 

ASYAD 

ASYAD is a state owned enterprise and the premier provider of integrated logistics services within the Sultanate of Oman. The company manages a diverse portfolio that includes but is not limited to: free zones, ports, transport companies and logistics support services companies. ASYAD actively seeks innovative opportunities to create value while becoming a leader within the sector. With a unique business structure differentiating the company in the market, ASYAD is able to continuously deliver competitive multi-modal logistics services.

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