ISTANBUL - The 31st World Congress of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) will take place in Istanbul between May 15th and 16th under the theme "Re-born Silk Road".
IRU`s world congress will be attended by around 2,000 people from 70 countries.
The ministerial meeting, organized within the frame of the world congress, will bring together high level officials from 50 countries.
The guest speaker at the congress will be the last president of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev.
The IRU, through its national associations, represents the entire road transport industry world-wide. It speaks for the operators of coaches, taxis and trucks, from large transport fleets to driver-owners. In all international bodies that make decisions affecting road transport, the IRU acts as the industry`s advocate. By working for the highest professional standards, the IRU improves the safety record and environmental performance of road transport and ensures the mobility of people and goods. Among its practical services to the industry, the IRU is international guarantor of the TIR carnet system under which trucks are sealed by customs upon departure and can cross several borders without further checks until they reach their destinations.
(SOL-MS)