Responding to an invitation from José Viegas, Secretary General of the International Transport Forum (ITF), Claude Van Rooten, President of the World Road Association, took part in the annual summit of the ITF in Lepizig, Germany, 30 May-2 June 2017. This year's topic was "Governance of transport".

The ITF Summit gathers major players in all modes of transport including public sector stakeholders, associations and companies. For the World Road Association, it is a excellent opportunity to work on issues related to roads and road transport with its partners.

Claude Van Rooten addressed delegates in a plenary session on "Better governance for investment in transport infrastructure" along with, among others, the Norwegian transport and communications minister and the Canadian deputy minister of transport. He emphasised the key role of road networks, quoting figures drawn up by the McKinsey Global Institute on the worldwide infrastructure investment required on roads between 2016 and 2030: 11.4 trillion US dollars. With such huge needs, road operators and authorities should be actively involved in overall strategic conversations and should strive to plan infrastructure able to cope with varied and ever-changing needs, as well as comodality and adaptation to climate change ambitions. "The upkeep and maintenance of assets, as well as long-term strategies on resilience and risk assessment, should form the basis of our action", he stated. All those involved in transport must consult each other regularly: public authorities, operators, vehicle manufacturers, all types of user and the private sector. Claude Van Rooten emphasised that "as industrial innovation stems from private companies, the private sector should be encouraged to work with public authorities".

During the Summit, the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR), regional partner of PIARC, held a workshop on the topic of governance in which Claude Van Rooten presented the Association's strategy with the many representatives of road administrations members of the Association. He stressed that "cross-discipline work, cooperation with a wide range of partners and countries, covering streets, urban and inter-city networks and including the private sector, is more essential than ever", to seize the opportunities offered by ever faster technology evolutions.

The Association demonstrated its willingness to cooperate on the stand it shared with Polish National Roads and Motorways Authority (GDDKIA). The Association's many products were presented alongside information on the next International Winter Road Congress in Gda?sk on 20-23 February 2018.