Issued by: KC Communications
PRESS RELEASE GATHERING OF GLOBAL TRANSPORT GURUS
CODATU VIII, a high-powered international conference that aims to provide insights into urban transport issues and methods for creating sustainable development opened its doors yesterday at Cape Town's Good Hope Centre.
This is the first time a conference of this stature has been held in Africa with 160 international experts presenting papers over the five-day event.
The first working session was in the form of a round table debate on urban transport policy and management that explored existing trends and prospects. Chaired by SA's Minister for Transport, Mr Mac Maharaj, this highlighted some key areas of agreement among the international panel of experts and 520 delegates.
According to Vivienne Lipman, Senior Policy Advisor to the National Department of Transport, there was an excellent spirit of co-operation.
"Common interests were explored and areas in which we can help each other were highlighted," commented Lipman who will be presenting a paper on the Moving South Africa policy today.
"We could have continued until midnight," said Roy Petersen, SA President of Codatu V111. "There is still a lot which needs to be discussed and debated and the mood really expressed people's enthusiasm - unlike many conferences this one certainly won't be dull."
"Despite our geographic spread it was interesting to note that worldwide transport related problems and their solutions are very similar."
There was wide agreement on the wisdom of encouraging public, rather than private, transport. There was also strong support for the involvement of the private sector in this transport arena with government acting as policy regulator and facilitator. This partnership was put forward as the best solution to the funding crisis experienced by public transport globally.
There was also widespread agreement that the transport sector offered many opportunities for social upliftment.
"It is seen as a major source for job creation, a generator of economic growth and support for major industry. A good transport infrastructure also plays an important role in community development by offering affordable, safe and effective methods of getting people to places of work, schools and hospitals.
"There is no doubt that conferences of this nature create fertile ground for co-operation and if we can generate this spirit on transport issues surely we can do it across the political spectrum," concluded Petersen.
The conference continues today with a range of papers on a range of subjects from public transport in developing countries to making public transport "spicy".
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF CODATU VIII ISSUED BY KC Communications TELEPHONE AT CONFERENCE (021) 462-2602 CELL 082 568 5498 CONTACT Dorria Watt