IRF ORGANIZES SEMINAR ON ROAD SAFETY AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN CAIRO

Geneva, 08.10.2009 – Every morning the Egyptian public is shocked when they read in the newspaper or see in the TV news the daily numbers of horrible accidents with dozen of fatalities on Egyptian roads. Just last week two horrible accidents on the ring road of Cairo with at least 15 dead people, caused by two un-experienced truck drivers driving technically unsafe trucks, reminded the Egyptian public that something needs to be done about Road Safety.

Therefore the timing for the Road Safety seminar organized by the International Road Federation (IRF) on the 12th and 13th of October at the Ramses Hilton in Cairo couldn’t be better.

Not only will the seminar unite an exceptional cast of international speakers and experts around two of the key challenges facing the road sector today, but it will also show solution and concepts on how the different road authorities and ministries in Egypt should work and cooperate together in order to achieve an effective Road Safety plan, as it will be demonstrated and explained in the presentation of Auto Arabia’s editor Mohamed Sheta on the first day of the seminar at 14.30h.

It is very important that ministries work together on a so-called �Road Safety Master-plan’ and in particular the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Trade & Industry and its Authority for Standardization and Quality EOS, the Ministry of Finance and its Customs Authority and last but not least the Ministry of Tourism.

With respect to both Road Safety and Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the Seminar will provide a unique, interactive forum that will enable international road professionals to benefit at first hand from the most authoritative expertise, cutting-edge knowledge and latest best practice.

In the words of the Chair of the Seminar, Mr. Sami Allam:
“With road traffic accidents now a leading global cause of death and injury, the seminar will focus on tackling safety issues in a comprehensive, pro-active manner that addresses each stage of the infrastructure process – from earliest target setting and planning right through to construction, equipping and maintenance – as well as the needs, comfort and security of end users.�

Another key challenge, which will be addressed in parallel, is the widening funding gap for road development and works – and the potential of PPP projects for closing this gap. Once again, the sessions will address issues across the board; from analysis of the underlying financial mechanisms and economic advantages, through to detailed review of risk management, asset management, life cycle planning and optimum contractual basis.

Mr. Allam highlighted that: “International and regional experts in road financing and associated legal frameworks will join us in Cairo to develop dynamic approaches to public-private partnership aimed at attracting the new private sector involvement in road infrastructure investment that is particularly crucial in the current economic climate.�

Over a two-day period, participants will benefit from direct access, in highly conducive surroundings, to an expanding network of international professionals, including delegates from government departments, local government, communities, universities and leading private and third sector organizations.

Confirmed speakers include Ministers and senior officials from key Egyptian Ministries, the World Bank, the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (UN ESCWA), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), EUROVIA, COLAS, the World Road Association (PIARC), Swarco AG, the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), the global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP), 3M, WSP Group, Volkmann & Rossbach, Attikes Diadromes and the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).

Auto Arabia’s editor Mohamed Sheta will also speak at the seminar about the �Role of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) for safer roads’ and how such Road Safety challenges can be solved by the different Egyptian ministries and authorities.

Also speaking at the seminar will be the German expert Mr. Joachim Vollpracht, Resident Twinning Advisor for the EU-Egypt Twinning Project on Egyptian Road Safety. He will discuss �Road Safety Audit’ and the potentials or road infrastructure for avoiding human errors on the way to a sustainable road safety.

The Seminar will be hosted on 12th and 13th October at the Ramses Hilton Hotel in Cairo.

Full details of the Seminar, together with the latest programme, are available on-line at irfnet.ch

For more information about the conference:
Administration: info@irfnet.org Tel. +41 22 306 02 60,
Sibylle Rupprecht - Director General: srupprecht@irfnet.org Tel. +41 22 306 02 60

Local journalists and media representatives can alternatively contact Mr. Mohamed Sheta through autoarabia@gmx.net or +2-011-3017027

To view the program as PDF: IRF Conference 12.10.2009 in Cairo - Speech Mohamed Sheta.pdf