1. The Reopening of the Silk Road: Driving Progress Across the Euroasian Landmass
US Chamber of Commerce
13 December 2006, Washington
Umberto de Pretto
IRU Deputy Secretary General
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

2. If the Silk Road worked for Marco Polo then, why shouldn’t it work for trade and transport today?
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

3. The combined efforts of 29 companies in 18 countries
What is Globalisation?
What does it take to have a cup of coffee in a café?
The combined efforts of
29 companies in 18 countries
Road transport has become
a vital production tool!
Source: IRU
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

4. Interlinking all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
Saturated
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

5. Evolution of sea containers in ports
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

6. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

7. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

8. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

9. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

10. Interconnecting all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
To East Coast
Saturated
To US East Coast
Labour costs = $200/month
Diesel fuel = 30 cents / litre
To Black Sea
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

11. Interconnecting all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
To CIS
To East Coast
To EU
Saturated
To US East Coast
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
To Mid East
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

12. Beijing Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference and Ministerial Meeting, 26-27 September 2005
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

13. Beijing-Brussels Caravan
Launch of Historic
Beijing-Brussels Caravan
Brussels
Beijing
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

14. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

15. Source: Ramboll, Land Transport Options between Europe and Asia:
Commercial Feasibility Study
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

16. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

17. Interconnecting all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
To CIS
To East Coast
To EU
Saturated
To US East Coast
To Black Sea
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
To Mid East
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005

18. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005