The next meeting of the Association’s Council will take place in Dakar, Senegal, the week of 7 November. This will be the first in-person meeting Council meeting in three years: Yes, we are beginning to see the end of the two-year tunnel of endless online meetings, and are starting to resume face-to-face discussions, which are so much more fruitful.

In order to prepare for that important event, Mr Mamoudou Alassane Camara, First Delegate for Senegal and Member of the Executive Committee, had invited me to come and visit facilities and discuss plans. Coincidentally, ARMFA, the association of African road funds managers was holding its general assembly in Dakar at the same time - this has helped renew links with several African PIARC member countries.

Let me confirm very clearly that everything is in place for a very efficient and pleasant meeting in Dakar in November! The airport is very modern, immigration is smooth, the city is very safe, and hotel and conference rooms are on par with what we can find in any major city. The road community in Senegal is mobilised to make of this meeting a professional and lively event that all will remember. It will also underline PIARC’s efforts to contribute to the sustainable development of roads and road transport in the African continent.