ITF eyes deeper cooperation with Southeast Asian countries

International Transport Forum director-general aims to tap Singapore for being a ‘global role model.’

LEIPZIG, Germany — Following Cambodia’s onboarding in 2022, the International Transport Forum (ITF) is hoping to collaborate with other Southeast Asian countries for its goal to stage better global transport activities.
 
One of the countries which ITF eyes as a partner is Singapore, which ITF Director-General Young-Tae Kim described as a “global role model” in transport.
 
“Singapore has many areas in transport where it is most certainly a global role model: public transport, automation, road safety, operational efficiency and quality of service come to mind, among others,” Kim said.
 
“Singapore also has specific characteristics that shape its mobility systems. As a comparatively small, densely populated city state it is definitely a beacon for other metropolises,” he added.
 
Whilst “no visible progress” has been made between the transport think tank and Singapore, Kim hopes that the Lion City, as well as other SEA countries will be as engaged with the ITF as Cambodia.
 
“Global warming and CO2 emissions is a planetary question, a global question that we have to solve together,” Kim told GovMedia on the sidelines of the ITF Summit 2023, here.
 
As a parting shot, Kim said global leaders should also think about how they can support developing countries.