The International Transport Forum is an inter-governmental organisation within the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) system. It acts as a think tank for global transport policy issues and organises an annual summit of transport ministers.
The International Transport Forum brings together 52 member countries[1] with the aim to advance the global transport policy agenda, and ensure that it continues to contribute to sustainable development, prosperity, social inclusion and the protection of human life and well-being. It works to facilitate the exchange of information internationally and to improve the capacity for decision making in member countries. At the International Transport Forum's 2011 Summit, China declared its intention to join the organisation as the 53rd member.[2]
In its Think Tank role, the International Transport Forum provides policy makers and the global transport community with evidence-based insights on transport policy issues [3]. Its work is underpinned by economic research, statistics collection[4] and policy analysis carried out by its in-house Research Centre, often in collaboration with researchers from academia, business and government. The Research Centre's programme of work includes focus on environmental sustainability, road safety, efficiency, logistics, traffic congestion and infrastructure, among other themes. The Research Centre maintains the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD), a comprehensive database of statistics related to road safety.[5]
Every year, the annual Summit of the International Transport Forum brings together ministers from member countries in Leipzig, Germany, to debate a specific, transport-related theme with leaders from industry, civil society and the research community. Past Summits have focused on Climate Change (2008, Presidency Finland), Globalisation (2009, Presidency Turkey), Innovation (2010, Presidency Canada) and Transport for Society (2011, Presidency Spain). The 2012 Summit on Seamless Transport, under the presidency of Japan, will be held on 2-4 May 2012. The 2013 Summit will focus on Financing Transport and presided over by Norway.
The International Transport Forum's Secretariat is based at the OECD's headquarters in Paris, France. The Secretary General is Mr. Jack Short.[6] At the ministerial session of the International Transport Forum on 26 May 2011, transport ministers elected Ms. Carole Coune (Belgium) to succeed Jack Short as Secretary General. Ms. Coune took office on 1 August 2011.[7]
Before 2007, the International Transport Forum existed for over 50 years as the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT).[8]