Source: www.zawya.com
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), has received at Al Wasl Hall, Dubai World Trade Center, a number of Arab and foreign officials taking part in the UITP Congress and Exhibition.
Al Tayer received Her Excellency Catherine Alstair Savard, Minister of Projects, Power and Telecommunications, Sweden which is currently visiting the UAE to take part in the UITP Congress, accompanied by an economic delegation comprising Presidents of specialized companies in rail, bus and various transit modes sectors.
During the meeting the two parties explored means of cooperation and exchanging of expertise between the RTA and its Swedish counterpart as well as the Swedish companies working in transport industry. They also reviewed the forthcoming road and infrastructure projects in Dubai.
“The projects intended to be carried out by countries in the region in future are in the order of 80 billion dollars and constitute a good opportunity for companies and factories in transportation industry, particularly those engaged in designing, constructing and operating rail projects where they can avail the opportunity to showcase the latest technology in rail industry and transportation systems. The countries of the region are required to put additional efforts in future towards convincing the populace to migrate from using private vehicles to mass transit modes.
For her part the Swedish Minister congratulated RTA on the magnificent organization of the Congress and Exhibition, adding that her country is taking part in the Exhibition through several companies highlighted by Volvo and Scania companies.
Kuwati Delegation
While receiving H.E. Khalid Al Roomi, Director General of Rahaal International Transport Co., Al Tayer welcomed the GCC delegations taking part in the Congress saying that the event offered a huge opportunity for countries of the region to benefit from the expertise and practices of countries that have a leading edge in mass transit systems, especially given the current drive of the regional countries to construct a rail project linking all GCC countries.
“Visits of the GCC delegations offer a splendid opportunity for exchanging expertise, boosting cooperation in various fields and benefiting from inter-GCC practices. In keeping with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, RTA is putting all its expertise and potentials to the disposal of the sisterly and friendly countries,” said Al Tayer.
For his part H.E. Khalid Al Roomi said: “Kuwait is currently pondering establishing of Union Metro Company, where the requirements of Kuwait have been identified in three metro lines. It will also ponder establishing a dedicated transport authority and Kuwait will be looking forward to benefit from RTA expertise in constructing the Dubai Metro and developing mass transit systems.”
Singaporean Delegation
Al Tayer also received Cho Hok Young, President of Singapore’s transport authority (SMRT) and the meeting discussed means of supporting and boosting the strategic partnership relationships and how to exchange expertise in all aspects relating to the global developments in the field of transport activities and promoting the friendly ties between the two parties in the light of the Memorandum of Association signed between them.
He praised the Singaporean expertise in upgrading the infrastructure of the transport sector and carrying out a host of quality modern transit systems projects and its drive towards boosting public transport to make an ideal choice of population mobility. He added that the policies and procedures adopted by Singapore in restricting the ownership of vehicles by individuals contributed to boosting mass transit. In Singapore private vehicle ownership is estimated as 111 vehicles per 1000 of population.
For his part the President of Singapore’s SMRT commended the Dubai Metro and Al Suffouh Tram projects adding that the procedures adopted by the RTA in boosting public transport contributed to raising the ridership of public transport means.
Turkish Delegation
Al Tayer also received H.E. Mehmet Ozhaseki, President of Kayseri, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Turkey and the meeting discussed the bilateral cooperation and exchanging of expertise between the RTA and its counterpart in Turkey.
Al Tayer commended the excellent relations between the UAE and the Republic of Turkey; which contributed to boosting the investments and trade, and the exchange of official visits besides flourishing the tourist activities.
“The Turkish companies enjoy a high reputation and we in the RTA have an excellent experience of dealing with the Turkish companies. Yapi Merkezi is one of the DURL Consortium which constructed the Dubai Metro and it has a prominent role in completing the project on time.
For his part Mehmet Ozhaseki lauded the vital Dubai Metro project describing it as a quality shift in the rail projects not only in the UAE but also across the globe, through using state-of-the-art rail operation technology, deluxe finishes of the metro stations and integration with various transit modes.
