LEIPZIG: The Sultanate of Oman has officially become a member of the International Transport Forum (ITF), a global organization, on Thursday.
Oman, along with Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic, has been warmly welcomed into the ITF family, bringing the total number of members to 69.
Earlier reports from Times of Oman had already indicated that Oman, along with the other two nations, would be granted membership in this prestigious international body.
The decision to include these three countries was made by the ITF's Council of Ministers of Transport, the organization's highest governing body, during a meeting held in Leipzig, Germany on Thursday.
As the only intergovernmental organization with a worldwide mandate for all modes of transportation, the ITF plays a crucial role in shaping transport policies. It is administratively integrated into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and serves as a think tank for transport-related matters. Additionally, it organizes an annual global summit of transport ministers.
Expressing gratitude for the inclusion, Hamood Musabah Al Alawi, a senior representative of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, stated, "We extend our sincere appreciation to the ITF for welcoming us into their esteemed family. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with the ITF and fellow member nations, as we have witnessed remarkable progress in the transport sector through successful partnerships among member countries."
Oman is focused on enhancing connectivity across all modes of transport and is dedicated to upgrading its infrastructure. The country is eager to attract investments to modernize infrastructure using new technology and promote green mobility. Collaboration and partnerships with member nations are also sought in the areas of public transport system and logistics, according to Al Alawi, the Metro Project Manager at the ministry.
Abdullah Al Busaidi, Director General of Oman Logistics Centre and part of the Oman delegation at the ITF, expressed his commitment to being an active member of the ITF. He emphasized the importance of working with member nations and the ITF to achieve success and growth. Al Busaidi highlighted the benefits of joining the ITF, such as gaining global appeal, sharing knowledge, and promoting common practices in the transport sector.
Furthermore, Al Busaidi mentioned that Oman's membership in the ITF will contribute to making the transport sector more efficient and advancing green mobility initiatives in the country. Oman's goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050 aligns with its efforts to promote green initiatives in the transport sector, with collaboration from stakeholders locally and globally under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
The addition of Oman and Saudi Arabia to the ITF has increased the number of member nations from the MENA region to six, joining UAE, Morocco, Tunisia, and Israel. Europe remains the region with the highest number of nations in the organization, totaling 44.
ITF secretary-general Young Tae Kim expressed his warm welcome to the new members, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the Dominican Republic. He emphasized the ITF's pride in having a seventh nation from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as its second and third members from the Gulf.
Kim highlighted the importance of advanced transportation, communications, and information technology infrastructure for Oman's Vision 2040. He mentioned that Oman's Transport Ministry has already initiated plans for zero-emission light and heavy-duty vehicles. The ITF's member countries are eager to support Oman in any way possible, drawing inspiration from the experiences of other nations to enhance its transport systems.
Regarding Saudi Arabia, Kim acknowledged its aim to diversify its economy and prioritize transport policies that improve connectivity and trade through various networks. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's membership in the ITF provides an opportunity for members to offer advice and learn from its unique approach to solving transport issues. Kim expressed his pleasure in welcoming Saudi Arabia to the ITF family and looked forward to fruitful cooperation.
Chile has assumed the ITF presidency for a year term from Lithuania, with Czech Republic and Azerbaijan serving as first and second vice-presidents, respectively.
The next ITF Annual Summit will take place in Leipzig from May 21-23, 2025, with Czech Republic set to take over the presidency after Chile.
More than 1,200 delegates, including journalists from around the world, are currently attending the 2024 ITF Annual Summit, which started on Wednesday and will end on Friday. The summit is hosting key debates and discussions on various transport and communications related topics, with speakers and experts participating in almost 70 sessions over the three days.
