25-05-2023
Lithuania Assumes Presidency of the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Taking Over from the UK
In a formal ceremony held at the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit in Leipzig, Germany, Lithuania took over as the chair of the International Transport Forum from the United Kingdom. The Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, is leading the Lithuanian delegation at the yearly gathering of the members of the organisation.
The duration of the Lithuanian ITF presidency will be for one year. According to Skuodis, the new Lithuanian Presidency of the organisation will make a more robust effort towards addressing the significant challenges faced in the transport and logistics industries during its tenure.
“This serves as recognition of Lithuania’s credibility and the standing of our transport sector on the global stage. Such a status will accelerate the transport sector’s transformation with advanced technical and management solutions. Simultaneously, this presents a unique chance for Lithuanian businesses, the transport community, as well as experts and researchers to showcase the nation’s innovative solutions on a broader scale, and to develop enduring partnerships with international peers,” said Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis, as he took over the chairmanship of the ITF Council of Ministers.
Marius Skuodis emphasized that, in this period, Lithuania’s top priority within the organisation is to provide assistance to Ukraine whose civil and transport infrastructure is being destructed regularly due to the ongoing war with Russia. As the ITF Chair, Lithuania will rally the international transport community to support the efficient and sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine’s transport infrastructure and the advancement of its future transport system. The expertise of the ITF will play a crucial role in modelling Ukraine’s transport reconstruction and developing viable solutions.
Lithuania will collaborate with ITF member countries, international institutions, and partners to discover and implement inventive, technology-driven approaches to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly transportation, as a means to fight against climate change.
The Lithuanian Presidency will also prioritise the development of sustainable mobility systems, the promotion of public transport, and the advancement of technologies for a clean and connected mobility future in urban planning.
With 64 member countries, the International Transport Forum (ITF) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental organisation. Lithuania joined the ITF in 1992.
It is the only global forum that brings together transport officials, practitioners, and analysts from all over the world, covering all transport modes, and is frequently referred to as the “Davos of Transport”. Every year, Leipzig serves as the venue for the summit of transport ministers from various countries.
The ITF Summit is taking place in Leipzig from 24 to 26 May, with the participation of the Lithuanian delegation led by Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.