LEIPZIG, Germany, May 7. Ghana, Panama, and
Peru have officially joined the International Transport Forum
(ITF), marking a milestone in the forum’s global expansion, Rashad
Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and
Transport, announced at the ITF Summit in Leipzig, Trend's special correspondent
reports.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Council of Ministers of
Transport session, Nabiyev emphasized the ITF’s commitment to
digital, coordinated, and people-centered transport systems.
“This session of the Council of Ministers of Transport has just
concluded. It delivered concrete outcomes that will show how
transport systems evolve in the coming years towards systems that
are more efficient, resilient, and people-oriented. These outcomes
reflect a year of deliberate work on the Azerbaijan presidency,
guided by a clear principle, which is to align fullest discussions
with the implementation realities,” Nabiyev said.
According to Nabiyev, the new members bring valuable regional
perspectives to the forum. Ghana is expanding its role as a
transport hub for West Africa, investing in rail, port, and
aviation infrastructure to serve landlocked neighbors. Panama, home
to the strategic Panama Canal, plays a key role in international
maritime trade, while Peru, with the recent opening of the
Trans-Saharan Deep Water Port on its Pacific coast, is developing a
logistics corridor linking South Africa and Asia.
“The accession of Ghana, Panama, and Peru underscores the
growing global relevance of the ITF. Today’s outcomes send a clear
message that the future of transport belongs to systems that are
digital, coordinated, easily accessible, and most importantly,
centered on people,” he said.
