2009 Festival for Global Road & Traffic Field Opens

REAAA, PIARC, ROTREX will bring thousands of road & traffic policymakers, experts and industry notables from Korea and abroad

The 13th REAAA Conference, the 2009 PIARC Council Meeting and 3rd International Road and Traffic Expo 2009 (ROTREX) are set to take place at Songdo Convensia in Incheon from Sept. 23-26. This year, the Road Engineering Association of Asia & Australasia (REAAA) will coincide with the PIARC (World Road Association) Council Meeting for the first time.
For the REAAA, approximately 3,500 experts on road & traffic from Korea and abroad, including eight ministers and three deputy ministers from 11 countries, are expected to participate in the meeting to exchange information and cooperate on road and traffic issues to expand their contribution for the development of the Asia-Oceania region.
About 300 people including representatives of country members of the PIARC, road bureau chiefs and executive committee members will assemble for the PIARC Council Meeting.
Exhibitors from Korea and abroad are expected to set up approximately 600 booths to showcase their latest products and technologies at ROTREX. This is the third ROTREX since the expo was launched in Korea and is the largest such meeting in Asia with the number of participants rising every year in terms of both individuals and companies.
The exhibitors include Dasan Consultants Co., Daelim Industrial Co., Daewoo E&C, Sambo Engineering Co., Sam woo IMC Co., Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co., Incheon Bridge Co., the Korea Transport Institute, Korea Expressway Corp., Halla Engineering & Construction Corp., Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Japan Road Contractors Association, Taisei Rotec Corp., the Nippon Road Co., Incheon Metropolitan City, Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Road Engineering Association of Malaysia, Seoul Commtech Co., Electrics and Telecommunications Research Institute, 17th ITS World Congress Organizing Committee and Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corp.
The series of international meetings on roads, to be held under the theme “Future Roads-Safer, Greener and Smarter,” is set to establish itself as a global festival with thousands of policymakers, experts and businesspeople in the road & traffic field, with as many spectators are expected to attend.
Minister Chung Jong-hwan of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said in his message that Korea has recently been pushing forward its policy to pursue low-carbon, green growth through the construction of the “intelligent road” using 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 & traffic experts in September at this juncture,” Minister Chung said.
“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.”
During the festival, the Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) will introduce Korea’s low-carbon, green growth national development paradigm. It is expected to call for all participating countries to join forces in building a sustainable future in the road & traffic field by expediting the use of mass transportation systems through the establishment of intermodalism, such green infrastructure as bicycle paths, energy conservation road networks and new green transportation means.
In a related development, Minister Chung is expected to meet his counterparts from such countries as Vietnam, Malaysia and Tanzania in order to help Korean contractors enter those countries and conduct diplomatic activities designed to raise Korea’s international standing. In particular, the meetings will focus on improving mutual exchanges in the construction field, and Korea is likely to sign an MOU promoting cooperation with Vietnam in such areas as roads, railways and ports. Chung will likely disclose Korea’s willingness to bid for the right to host the 2015 PIARC Congress, the largest road & traffic event in the world.
The Korean government pledges to do its utmost for the success of the events. nw

Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Chung Jong-hwan