Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani has this weekend (5 to 6 October 2019) attended the world's largest roads event to promote and champion the UK's highways expertise.
The World Road Congress, which is being held in the Middle East for the first time, provides an opportunity for the UK to highlight its role as a forerunner in the building, design and maintenance of roads.
It also looks to spark discussion between nations about how new technologies are changing how we use our roads and how this can be used to drive down accident rates.
During the visit the minister met with key stakeholders representing the UK highway industry including private sector partners, SMEs and academics to discuss cutting edge technology and developing techniques which are revolutionising the way that road networks are developed.
She also met senior officials responsible for transport in several nations, to discuss how best practice can be shared to benefit the international community.
Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani said:
There are few people who can say they do not rely on the UK's roads - whether commuting to work, school, or meeting friends and family, our road network is crucial for modern life.
The UK is a world leader in understanding, managing and maintaining highway networks, which is why it is so important that we draw on our global networks to share best practice.
I was delighted to be able to attend the World Road Congress to promote the sector and to meet with so many industry leaders to discuss our shared vision for fantastic highway networks across the globe.
The 26th World Road Congress is a 5 day event discussing the over-arching theme of 'Connecting Cultures, Enabling Economies'.
The event will see Abu Dhabi welcome thousands of road transport professionals and more than 300 exhibitors from the private and public sectors across the world.
The location also reflects the growing profile of the region in the highways sector, with new and innovative thinking and the commitment to lead advances in this field.
The minister was delighted to host His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Transport, along with Claude Van Rooten, the President of the World Road Association at the UK stand. The UK organised the largest exhibitor stand of any of the visiting countries at the congress, designed to showcase the UK at its best.
