Statement by Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director-General, UIC, about the Global Rail Freight Conference
The UIC Global Rail Freight Conferences – GRFC- have become the worldwide reference for all decision-makers and all professionals participating in the development and operations of rail freight and logistics services across the globe. Every two years GRFC is the place to be for the global railway and transport community –including shipping lines, ports, intermodal operators- , representatives of international organizations with competence in international transport issues, as well as customers. The 3rd GRFC held in 2012 in Tangier, Morocco, was focused on partnership between rail freight, industries, ports, shipping lines, in particular in the Mediterranean region.
The 4th edition of the UIC Global Rail Freight Conference jointly organized with Austrian Federal railways ÖBB and Rail Cargo Group on 23-26 June 2014 in Vienna, will highlight the chances for rail freight resulting from improved harmonization and interoperability at continental and even intercontinental level. In this respect we are particularly happy to welcome heads of international organisations such as OTIF and United Nations’ UNECE who will present the contribution and action of their respective organizations for the development of seamless freight transport. A number of speakers from the transport world as well as customers will address all aspects of harmonization from the technical, operational, commercial as well as legal viewpoint.
This 4th UIC GRFC edition held in Vienna will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about projects of long distance rail freight corridors, as they are already being tested or even implemented. Corridors such as Euro-Asian corridors using the Transsiberian route or the North-South corridor through Central Asia, or also the “New Silk Road” linking Turkey in the West to Far-East Asia are fascinating projects on the way to become reality. The presentations and exchanges in GRFC will allow to get a clear picture of the current status and progress in these projects.
In organizing the Global Rail Freight Conference with its members, UIC aims to promote all the efforts and results obtained by the railway community to cope effectively with challenges of the global freight market and offer high-quality, innovative logistics solutions in close cooperation with all other partners involved.
We will be particularly happy to welcome you at the 4th GRFC Conference in Vienna and to exchange with you on all these promising developments and perspectives” .
Jean-Pierre Loubinoux
Director-General , International Union of Railways (UIC)
