ROTREX 2009 to Coincide with REAAA Confab, 2009 PIARC Council Meeting

Songdo Convensia, the venue for three key int'l events for road and traffic with 3,500 experts and related professionals expected to participate

The 13th REAAA Conference and 3rd Int'l Road and Traffic Expo 2009(ROTREX) are scheduled to take place at Songdo Convensia, Incheon Sept. 23-26.
For REAAA, experts on road and traffic from 60 countries around the world are expected to participate in the meeting to exchange various information and cooperation on road and traffic to expand their contribution to the development of the Asia-Oceania and the 3rd ROTREX, the third one since the expo was launched is the largest such meeting in Asia with the number of participants rising every year both individuals and companies.
During the period, PIARC or World Road Association is also scheduled to take place with 113 member countries sending their representatives.
"Future Roads-Safer, Greener and Smarter" is the theme for the international meetings on roads.
Minister Chung Jong-hwan of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, said in his message, Korea has recently been pushing forward with the policy to lead low-carbon green growth pursued through the construction of the "intelligent road" using road and cutting-edge IT technologies.
It is meaningful that we will be hosting the 13th REAAA Conference and PIARC Meetings to facilitate technology exchange and cooperation between the world's road and traffic experts in September at this juncture.
Furthermore, I am delighted that the 3rd International Road and Traffic Expo will take place at the same place and the same time to provide all participants an opportunity to experience the latest road-related technologies and knowledge.
The Korean government ensures to do its utmost for the success of the events.
President Lieu Chull-ho of the Korea Expressway Corp. and also the chairman of the REAAA Conference and the 3rd ROTREX Organizing Committee, said in his message, that the production of construction industry accounts for approximately 15 percent of Korea's GDP. The industry employs some 2 million people, the largest figures for a single industry. However, the situation is not much different in other countries. The industry accounts for about 6 percent, 8 percent and 16 percent of the GDP in the US, the EU and Japan, respectively. And it should be noted that road construction occupies 42 percent of the construction industry in Korea.
He said a number of events will take place at those events in Songdo Convensia in Incheon,in which some 3,500 professionals and experts from 60 countries in the road and traffic sector will participate in the 13th REAAA Conference and policy makers from 142countries are expected to attend PIARC Meetings. Moreover, some 30,000 people visit the 3rd International Road and Traffic Expo.
The 2009 Festival of Those in the Global Road and Traffic Industry has such diverse events as the 13th Road Engineering Association of Asia & Australasia (REAAA) General Meeting; technical sessions on 14 fields, the Ministerial Session in which cabinet member-level officials from 20 countries are expected to attend; and the 8th Heads of Road Authorities(HORA) Meeting with road policy makers from REAAA member nations participating, MOU's on technological tie-ups among participating countries will be signed, and technological and cultural tours designed to publicize Korea will be arranged.
In addition to a joint seminar with REAAA, the World Road Association (PIARC) Council will hold its own, separate seminar at the Incheon Sheraton Hotel from Sept. 20-26.
Roughly 250 corporations will display their materials in 600 booths at ROTREX 2009, the largest road and traffic show in Asia. The event is expected to attract some 30,000 viewers.
The organizing committee for those events set up in October, last year, said the festival is assured of success. Approximately 1,000 officials from 38 REAAA member countries and related industries have applied to participate in the 13th REAAA General Meeting and REAAA Council Meeting, to be held under the theme "Future Road-Safer, Greener and Smarter."
A total of 338 tutorials, more than expected, were submitted for presentation at the international seminars. The selection of the chairs of the 14 sessions is underway among Korea and foreign notables as is the screening of the winners of the Katahira Foundation awards.
Preparations for those meetings are well underway aimed at boosting the prestige of the festival. Ministers and vice ministers from 11 member countries have confirmed their participation in the events to take place at Songdo Cenvensia in Incheon. nw

Chairman Lieu Chull-ho of Korea Expressway Corp., also chairman of the Organizing Committee of the REAAA Conference and the 3rd ROTREX.