1. International Cooperation on Road Transport “Thinking globally, acting locally”
Ljubljana, 23 April 2008
Michael Nielsen
General Delegate
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

2. Evolution of IRU Membership
Members 73 Countries
Created 1948
8 Founder States:
Belgium
Denmark
France
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden UK
Switzerland
Updated January 2008
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

3. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

4. Road transport is a vital production tool in a global economy
What does it take to have a cup of coffee in a café?
The combined efforts of
29 companies in 18 countries
If to have one cup of coffee at an affordable price, it takes 29 companies in 18 countries, you imagine how much more it would cost if all items came from the country where the end product is consumed?
If we know that it takes 10’000 suppliers, which in turn have their own suppliers, to create an affordable motor car, you can imagine the vital role of road transport in a liberalised economy.
Therefore, to stay in business, we need to see globalisation as an opportunity and not as a threat. To do so, we need to develop together the entrepreneurial spirit currently lacking in Europe.
Road Transport has become a production tool!
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

5. Global Trade calls for Global research cooperation
To obtain fast results and future benefits for Europe
exchange of best practices are needed
How best to maximise the opportunities?
As you know, China has become the factory of the world. 75% of your goods are produced in China. Wal-Mart, the biggest company in the world, produces 80% of its goods in China.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

6. Opportunities by interlinking businesses
Saturated
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
What is the impact of this huge growth? The ports are saturated. (click – saturated)
Why and where are the ports so saturated?
Let me show you.
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

7. Evolution of sea containers in ports
The container movements in the main ports started with the birth of world containerisation in the 1970s.
Here, the green dots demonstrate a high density of container ports in the various countries.
This high number of ports is linked with a high number of small container vessels.
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The evolution of the container in the port at ten-year intervals is even more explicit.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

8. In the 1980s, there are bigger vessels and only five ports are emerging – New York and Rotterdam are the biggest. Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore are emerging.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

9. The huge growth in Asian trade is by the Pacific route to California.
In the 1990s the same trend continues. Bigger vessels and only eight major ports are emerging.
The huge growth in Asian trade is by the Pacific route to California.
New York staying constant, while the Asian ports, due to the lack of road infrastructure, exploded in volume.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

10. In 2000, due to globalisation, the same trend continues at an even higher speed, mainly in the Asian ports.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

11. The 2006 situation shows clearly why we have such massive congestion in all the main ports. The concentration of trade in a few ports generates not only bottlenecks, congestion and delays but above all additional costs!
This concentration of world trade in very few ports also creates a desertification of trade development in numerous regions that most require economic, social and political stability.
Remember, my name is Martin, and I have a dream. You also know that progress consists of realising dreams.
My dream, which is fully shared by Tom, is to create peace and prosperity not only in a handful of ports, but in all the other regions.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

12. IRU vision on reopening the Silk Road provides opportunities
IRU vision on reopening the Silk Road provides opportunities ! - Interlinking the Euro-asian landmass provide prosperity opportunities for land locked countries along the route - Increased goods flow from China via road transport provides an opportunity for an exchange of best practices along this route
Already trucks come in from China.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

13. Interconnecting all the businesses along the reopened Silk Road
To CIS
To East Coast
Saturated
To EU
To US East Coast
to US West Coast
to US West Coast
To Mid East
By doing so, we are not only transporting goods from China to the States, but we are interconnecting all the businesses along the 8,000 mile Silk Road, thus realising new business opportunities.
In fact, by “looking West”, you will also find your Middle Eastern markets, and we can interconnect all those businesses along that Middle East route, you can find your EU markets, and we can interconnect all the businesses along the EU route, you can find the CIS markets and we can interconnect all those businesses along the CIS route.
*****
A truck is not a boat, it is not a train, it is not a plane. Truck service is not concentrated in a handful of ports. A truck is always, everywhere, at the disposal of everyone. Thus, “looking West”, you could find fabulous new business opportunities.
Remember, a truck provides door-to-door service. A truck is therefore the best tool to unite people and to improve the distribution of wealth.
“wake up and smell the coffee, my dream has become reality.”
25% of world trade with neighbours sharing common border
50% of world trade between partners less than 3,000 km apart
Trade between Canadian provinces 22 times greater than trade between a Canadian province and US state of similar size and distance
Sea transport
Land transport
Key:
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

14. The Silk Road worked for Marco Polo so it should work for trade and transport today as well…
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

15. Beijing-Brussels Caravan
Historic
Beijing-Brussels Caravan
Brussels
Beijing
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

16. Launching a second Silk Road caravan 2008/2009
Possibility to exchange best practices along the route on:
How to acheive sustainable development
Road Safety
Security
Efficiency
Harmonisation
Training
...
How to facilitate free movements
Border controls
Access to profession and market
Use of ITS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

17. Let’s be working together to launch the second Silk Road caravan
and thus create a
true and operational international cooperation
on Road Transport
leading to improved
mobility, safety, security and prosperity
for all...
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

18. IRU World Congress 2008: Istanbul
15 – 16 May 2008
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008

19. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2008