Infrastructure transport has always represented a significant component in the economical and social organization for countries in the world. Therefore, it is transcendental for the well being and it is a challenge to manage and expand it to satisfy people's demands.
Mexico is a country with a deep traditional vocation in the field of road transport. Our network system communicates all the regions of the country and plays a key role to run our vibrant and modern economy, every day requesting further and better roads.
To face this important task, in Mexico and in the world, we the infrastructure transport decision makers need to spare no effort and direct our work to satisfy the mobility in a sustainable way by being environmentally responsible.
This is the reason why we have decided to offer our home for the XXIV World Road Congress organization in 2011. From now on we give you our warmest welcome and we welcome you to participate in this prestigious international event where its results will be of relevance and interest for those responsible for roads worldwide.
Juan Francisco Molinar Horcasitas Secretary of Communications and Transportation
Invitation from the President of the World Road Association (PIARC)
As we move deeper into the XXI Century, the road transportation system is faced with a number of unprecedented issues in terms of effectively rising to the challenges associated with creating sustainable mobility in a context of climate change and the global economic crisis.
We are all being urged to re-think our actions with respect to the management of transportation systems and the infrastructures that support them. Individual choices must be changed significantly in order to meet the emerging challenges resulting from climate change. The economic crisis has called into question traditional methods of financing, but has also opened up opportunities for innovation. Establishing a balance in terms of sustainable mobility - taking into account social development, economic vitality, and the preservation of the environment - this is the issue that is ripe for discussion, and that represents a call to action.
The XXIV World Road Congress, which will be held in historic Mexico City, represents a unique forum for comparing and contrasting the policies, methods, and techniques employed in response to these challenges in countries from every corner of the globe.
Hundreds of experts in the road industry from around the world will come together to share their thoughts, techniques, and work methods for the benefit of companies and users alike. You are cordially invited to share your expertise with your colleagues from around the globe, and to benefit from the most innovative concepts involving the maintenance and management of road systems.
For more than 100 years, the PIARC has focused on international cooperation as the cornerstone for progress in road transportation. The PIARC addresses the major issues that your organizations face. The approximately 1,200 experts who are members of Its Technical Committees focus on innovation and expertise as they discuss current and emerging needs, particularly with respect to adapting road networks and transportation systems to new user requirements.
On behalf of the World Road Association (PIARC), I am delighted to invite you to participate in the XXIV World Road Congress, and I would like to extend a very special invitation to our colleagues in Latin America to be part of this unique gathering, which will undoubtedly impact the decision-making and orientation process for road transportation system authorities.
On behalf of all members of the PIARC, I would like to express my gratitude to the government of Mexico, and particularly the Ministry of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT) and the Mexican Association of Engineering Roads, A. C. (AMIVTAC), for their dedication in organizing this conference.
Mark September 26 to 30, 2011 on your calendar now, and join us in Mexico for this unforgettable event.
In Mexico, reaching higher levels of social and economical development requires to increase infrastructure investment specially in construction as well as roads and bridges upgrading.
Therefore, the 2007 - 2012 National Infrastructure Program has an infrastructure construction approach that changes the structure of regional economical relations to provide mobility for persons and goods throughout large transverse corridors and contributes to transform Mexico into a logistics platform for international trade.
With the National Infrastructure Program as a reference framework, Mexico submitted its bid to host the XXIV World Road Congress, thus being privileged by the World Road Association to organize the event in Mexico City, from September 26th to 30th, 2011.
The World Road Congress is an essential forum for those interested in roads, since specialists from around the world will be brought together offering a magnificent opportunity to update your knowledge and make contacts, so I hope to have the pleasure to greet you in Mexico City in September 2011, during the World Road Congress.
While the metropolitan areas seek ways to reduce traffic congestion and simplify mobility among connecting corridors, the world's less developed regions are looking forward to find resources and formulas to complete and upgrade their transportation infrastructure thus develop their commercial potential. In the mean time, the poorest rural zones are still lacking infrastructure and the most elementary transport to access basic services.
However, the entire planet faces the challenge of reducing carbon emissions; a challenge where transport must provide its own efforts. There are, without hesitation, opportunities for a better market organization and new technology applications on both, the transport demand side as well as its offer.
The XXIV World Road Congress follows this context with the challenge of providing and proposing the best practices to answer contemporary issues from both north and south of the planet, therefore road professionals must contribute with our best effort.
Mexico is proud to receive the professionals working to achieve a higher, safer and fair access for people that strive to improve their welfare and calls upon all concerned to participate actively in the World Road Congress 2011, under the slogan "Roads for a better life".
The world road congress is the opportunity to get to know the latest and most advanced technologies in the road transport infrastructure sector, results from investigations and studies done by the best engineers and recognized technicians of roads of the world.
This will be an occasion to get to know the state- of- art technologies in a sector that depends a great deal on social well-being, economics, politics, and the attributes of life in our nations.
You will have the opportunity to exchange experiences and points of view with the highest functionaries and people in charge of management of transport infrastructure of more than 120 countries.
We are sure that the XXIV World Road Congress in Mexico will mark once again, the change to follow in future congress.
Víctor Mahbub M. Ex-president of the World Road Association
The XV World Road Congress
In 1975 we celebrated in Mexico the XV World Road Congress. It was an extraordinary event which exceeded the expectations of the organizers because approximately 1600 delegates from 72 countries assisted. I have been present in other PIARC congresses and in that period no one has been able to outdo that magnitude of attendance.
I also remember that it was the first time that there was a reunion of ministers. During the congress, representatives from 21 countries, 9 of them from Latin America got together to share their experiences and knowledge.
The election for the hosting country was a tough and close decision. Nevertheless, the designation was accomplished and the XV congress put Mexico geographically in the world of engineering, demonstrating to our people and foreign our enormous capacity to organize and the traditional kindness of the Mexican nation.
An anecdote that comes to my mind was that on October 17 of 1975, we took advantage of the congress to celebrate before the world community "The day of the walker" ("Dia del caminero") and inaugurated Xochimilco-Oaxtepec Highway.
Mexico definitely marked its presence in the congress in its international activities related to roads and for its outstanding organization; this could only make Mexicans proud.
Welcome
While the metropolitan areas seek ways to reduce traffic congestion and simplify mobility among connecting corridors, the world's less developed regions are looking forward to find resources and formulas to complete and upgrade their transportation infrastructure thus develop their commercial potential. In the mean time, the poorest rural zones are still lacking infrastructure and the most elementary transport to access basic services.
The world road congress is the opportunity to get to know the latest and most advanced technologies in the road transport infrastructure sector, results from investigations and studies done by the best engineers and recognized technicians of roads of the world.
In 1975 we celebrated in Mexico the XV World Road Congress. It was an extraordinary event which exceeded the expectations of the organizers because approximately 1600 delegates from 72 countries assisted. I have been present in other PIARC congresses and in that period no one has been able to outdo that magnitude of attendance.