The International Transport Forum’s 2013 Summit, organised by ITF, the global transport policy platform linked to the OECD, will take place this year in Leipzig from 22 to 24 May 2013.

This Annual Summit, conceived as the leading global platform for debate on the future of transport, will bring together ministers from more than 50 countries as well as decision-makers from industry, civil society and research to explore the trends that will shape mobility in the 21st century.

The demand for high-quality transport networks and services is growing fast. Meeting it requires continued expenditure and investment. But scarcity of public funds amplified by rising public debts brings into question traditional funding structures. With transport investment a long-term venture, robust, sound and credible funding propositions that will support trade, growth and long-term sustainability are urgently needed.

This year the Summit will deal with “Funding Transport” and will consider all aspects of funding and financing transport to answer: How will transport infrastructure, services and systems in general be funded to meet current and future demands?

Key questions to be explored include:

• In a competitive environment for private capital, where will the money go across regions and sectors: Europe, America, Asia, Africa? What are the key attraction factors?
• How can the various types of funds and other sources of capital combine to provide the most efficient financing of the highest priority projects?
• What are the pitfalls of Public/Private Partnerships and how can risks be managed to ensure the taxpayer does not bear any excess burden?
• How should investment and operating costs of transport systems be split between tax payers, users and beneficiaries?
• What do airlines and other actors of the air transport sector need to do to adapt and stay viable in a low-cost environment?
• What is the right balance in allocation of scarce funds between services and infrastructure when both are equally important?
• How can funding challenges be overcome to better connect global logistics networks across borders?

UIC, which has fostered close and fruitful links with ITF for several years now, will once again be participating in the Forum this year to represent the worldwide rail sector.

On 6 March, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, UIC Director-General participated in a stakeholders consultation to prepare the Forum. He answers several questions about Funding Transport in this video:

More information at: http://2013.internationaltransportforum.org

(Source: ITF)