First Euro-Asian Bus and Coach Forum to focus on facilitation of bus and coach services and best practices to achieve green, safe, efficient and affordable mobility for all in South East Europe, Middle East and Central Asian regions.

The 1st Euro-Asian Bus and Coach Forum, organised by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) in partnership with the United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA), the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on 25 March 2010 under the patronage of the Minister of Transport of Turkey, Binali Yildirim.

Staged in the framework of the largest regional bus and coach exhibition, Busworld Turkey, the forum will bring together transport Ministers, competent authorities and industry leaders from across the region to address sustainable mobility challenges.

Vice President of the IRU and CEO of Heyfordian Travel (UK), Graham Smith, said: “We are launching this first regional bus and coach forum with great ambitions and expectations. We want to make clear to national and regional decision makers that buses and coaches offer an optimal solution to many current and future mobility challenges, at all levels. Promoting and facilitating bus and coach transport, and incentivising an increased use of such transport by citizens, is the Smart Move to achieve sustainable mobility for all.”

Discussions will focus on the national strategies and best practices implemented to promote and further facilitate the use of bus and coach services at national and interregional level. On this occasion, the Smart Move campaign, now available to Turkish and Arab speaking audiences, will be officially launched in the region.

Dr. Mahmoud Abdallatt, Secretary General of the AULT, added, “This interregional Forum, coupled with initiatives like Smart Move, is the perfect occasion to gain momentum and induce change in policy-making, perception and behaviours in order to achieve safe, user-friendly, green, efficient and affordable mobility for all in the region.”

Bekir Cakici, General Manager of HKF Trade Fairs – the organiser of Busworld Turkey in cooperation with Busworld International and the IRU, concluded, “International exhibitions such as Busworld Turkey are instrumental in promoting new vehicle technologies that improve road safety and environmental preservation in the region, where the demand for the mobility of people is constantly increasing.”