About 3,500 transportation-related people from 60 countries are expected to participate in the World’s Road and Traffic Festival to be held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon for four days from Sept. 23 to 26. The global festival consists of three big international events - the 13th general meeting and conference of the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA), the World Road Association (PIARC) annual meeting, and the third International Road & Traffic Expo.
“Through this big international festival of road traffic-related people, I hope to introduce Korean companies’ advanced road traffic technology to the world and accelerate their advancement into global markets,” said Yoo Kyong-soo, president of REAAA.
In an interview with the Korea IT Times, Yoo said, “Korea’s hosting of these events will also greatly contribute to developing global road traffic technology further by breaking down barriers between continents and between states.” In particular, about 200 Korean companies are to operate 600 booths introducing their goods and technologies at the third International Road & Traffic Expo, which is expected to attract some 22,000 visitors. “By holding these global events, Korean companies are likely to bolster their international competitiveness and enjoy 62 billion won worth of economic effects comprising 50 billion won of production inducement and 12 billion won of value added inducement,” said the REAAA head.
Subject of REAAA Conference
The 13th REAAA conference will be held under the subject of Future roads - Safer, Greener & Smarter. "Some 3,500 people, including directors and members of REAAA, as well as officials of relevant international organizations, will discuss ways to settle many problems in the road traffic sector. Participants will also announce their study results on road safety, creation of an environmentally-friendly climate, and development of advanced intelligent technology,” he said.
Ministers and vice-ministers of each country will also attend the Minister Session and the meeting of international road institutions to seek common interests through introduction of their government’s road policies and discussions. “Through the meetings, the government will help Korean road traffic-related companies advance into overseas markets and expand their exports to existing markets," said Yoo.
Currently, ministers and vice ministers from at least 20 countries in Asia, Oceania and Africa are expected to attend the Minister Session. “During the event period particularly, Korea plans to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Malaysia, Vietnam and Bangladesh, bearing visible diplomatic fruit,” he said.
Future Direction of Domestic Road Traffic Sector
When asked about the future course that the domestic road traffic sector pursues, Yoo said, “First of all, we should concentrate our efforts on development of new materials to cope with global warming, development of environmentally-friendly road design methods, and intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology development.”
Noting that advanced countries, including South Korea, are focusing their efforts on developing roads without cement, he said, “We should develop advanced ways to reduce or remove asphalt pavement or use of cement.”
“At the same time, we need to expand investment in intelligent traffic systems to achieve drastic development in the high pass, automatization of business facilities and road traffic information sectors,” said the REAAA president.
On a plan to attract the 2015 World Road Conference to Korea, he commented, “We already established the Korea committee about the international conference in August 2007. We will exert best efforts to host the global conference in an attempt to enhance Korea’s international status in the global market and increase exports of domestic road traffic products,” said Yoo.
Meaning of the International Road & Traffic Expo
The third International Road & Traffic Expo will introduce the world’s state-of-the-art technologies related to road construction technology, advanced parking systems and other road traffic goods to visitors. About 200 companies from 10 countries such as Japan and Australia will exhibit their advanced technologies, systems and products related to roads, tunnels, bridge construction and maintenance at the Expo. This will include road traffic signs, safety facilities, advanced traffic control systems, parking systems, intelligent traffic systems and parking facilities.
“The Expo organization committee will establish a business center during the Expo period to help domestic companies actively engage in export and import consultations,” he said. Asked about the characteristics of the third International Road & Traffic Expo, Yoo said, “The number of foreign companies participating in the 2009 Expo has increased by 5 percent and the bicycle sector was newly added to the exhibition in keeping with the government’s Low Carbon Green Growth policy. Along with this, the exhibition scale of ITS sector was widened significantly, making the 2009 Expo the world’s representative fair in the road traffic field.” The number of visitors to the third Expo is also expected to reach 22,000, a hefty rise from 12,000 in the first Expo and 16,000 in the second Expo.
Side Events on Traffic Safety
There are many side events of the third International Road & Traffic Expo, including the traffic safety experience exhibition and the food festivals at resting places on the expressway.
Commenting that Korea ranked third among OECD member countries in terms of the children’s fatal accident rate and half of the accidents are traffic ones, the REAAA president said, “Experience education in traffic safety is indispensible for children. As a result, we have prepared a program to promote traffic safety in the exhibition hall jointly with the Citizens’ Coalition for Safe Living.
Under the program, children will learn the 10 main causes of traffic accidents and precautionary measures. He said that education on traffic accidents is very important as it is directly linked with life, adding “I think the most important factor for securing traffic safety is the driver. Drivers must avoid drunk driving and drowsy driving to prevent large-scale traffic accidents.” Related to this, the REAAA is exerting all-out efforts to secure traffic safety through safe road design and the setup of road traffic safety facilities, he said. “Along with this, we arranged food festivals at resting places on the expressway to introduce indigenous products of provincial regions to domestic and foreign visitors," clarified Yoo.
