Transport for a Global Economy
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| Berlin, 24 April 2009 - The global economy needs a strong transport sector. ITF Secretary General Jack Short and Transport Ministers Binali Yildirim (Turkey) and Wolfgang Tiefensee (Germany) | |
Difficult times require new thinking. Today, in the face of the current economic downturn, global transportation faces major challenges, but also opportunities for sustainable change. With car sales down, shipping rates plummeting and manufacturing capacity underutilised, supply chains and transport industries around the world are presented with an unprecedented set of challenges. Yet, even within this context, there are also new possibilities for positive action. The revitalisation of international trade is certain: the question is not if - but how and when?
To address the situation, policy-makers everywhere are employing instruments to engage an economic recovery process, many of which are already showing tentative results in national economies. Transport can and will play an important role in these stimulus packages. At the same time, actions to speed economic recovery should ensure a major rethinking of transport programmes to prepare global mobility in the 21st century.
More efficient transport can create a significant boost to support economic growth and create new confidence in the economic future. Yet, protectionist and purely national responses risk accentuating the problem in the medium-term, and solutions need to be found at an international level. The 2009 Forum in Leipzig is an opportunity to be part of this cooperative impetus for change.
