Tim Corbin
IRF and REAAA showcase solutions to global road and transport needs
BALI, Indonesia, March 28, 2017 –
The International Road Federation, in partnership with the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia, successfully concluded its inaugural IRF Global Road Summit, held in conjunction with the 15th REAAA Conference and themed “Roads for Better Living”. This road and transport sector event attracted more than 1,000 participants including 20 government delegations.
The Summit and Conference underscores four decades of cooperation between the IRF and REAAA, highlighted by a renewed memorandum of understanding signed in 2016. “I am delighted that this REAAA Conference is also in cooperation with the IRF, who provide a unique forum for sharing the latest industry technologies, solutions, and best practices,” said REAAA President Hermanto Dardak in his opening address to delegates. “REAAA and the IRF share a common vision to promote innovative road design and management practices,” said IRF President & CEO C. Patrick Sankey. “Our partnership with REAAA provides a platform to better serve the members of IRF and REAAA on a regional and global basis,” he added.
“Through its partnership with REAAA, the IRF was able to leverage global perspectives on regional questions in need of answers, including a significant infrastructure shortfall and troubling rates of road traffic injuries,” said IRF Chairman Abdullah A. Al-Mogbel. Demonstrating the spirit of cooperation, IRF presented a special session to REAAA members on Public Private Partnerships, in which presenters shared experiences from China, Canada, India, Indonesia, Spain, and the United States. Stemming from this session were three key outcomes for PPP successes: an enabling environment, experienced advisors/consultants, and sufficient lead time to encourage bidder participation.
The IRF also utilized the Summit and Conference to announce the continuation of its globalization efforts. “Today, the IRF is announcing the opening of its newest regional office in Kuala Lumpur to serve Asia,” said Sankey. Mr. Howie Gan has been hired to serve as the IRF’s Regional Manager for Asia Programs. In this role, Mr. Gan will oversee operations in the region and help expand the IRF’s global program of work, as well as further its mission of ‘Building Partnerships’. “To better serve its members around the world, the IRF has now expanded its global footprint by opening regional offices in Southeast Asia, Europe & Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America,” Sankey said.
Capitalizing on the success of the IRF Summit and REAAA Conference, the IRF will conduct a conference on the Road System Resilience to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events, November 15-17, 2017 in Seoul, Korea. More information on this conference and other IRF events is available at https://dev.irf.global
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ABOUT THE IRF: The International Road Federation is a global not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Washington, DC since 1948 and supported by regional offices throughout the world. The IRF serves a network of public and private sector members in more than 70 countries by providing world-class knowledge resources, advocacy services, and continuing education programs which together offer a global marketplace for best practices and industry solutions.
CONTACT INFO:
Timothy Corbin
Manager, Global Communications
media@IRF.global
Howie Gan
Regional Manager, Asia Programs
hgan@IRF.global
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