Seamless transport is a powerful and ambitious strategic vision for the future of our transport systems.

Pursuing seamlessness entails improving the user experience and leveraging the potential of transport systems to contribute to economic growth and societal welfare. Seamlessness is about using resources optimally. This involves innovation, for example through convergence of transport infrastructure, operations and systems with the digital sphere, a process that is already changing the way we think about and use transport.  Seamless transport requires the connection of traditional transport systems and networks with other infrastructure and services, such as water, energy and telecommunications – all an essential part in today’s society.

This Opening Plenary for the 2012 Summit sets the scene of ‘Seamless Transport: Making Connections’.  It looks from a broad perspective at how establishing policy and institutional frameworks, as well as continued cooperation among all levels of government and across industry sectors can engender inter-governmental and private sector co-operation and define the roadmap towards seamless transport.

The Summit will be opened officially by Mr. Takeshi Maeda, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan and Dr. Peter Ramsauer, Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development, Germany.

Opening speeches by the Japanese and German Ministers will be followed by a keynote address from Mr. Luca di Montezemolo, Chairman, Ferrari and Chairman, Nuovo Transporto Viaggiatori, Italy.

The keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion between Ministers and industry leaders.