The UfM - UITP Joint Event organized as part of the UITP Global Public Transport Summit was held in Barcelona, Spain on June 5-6. At the Summit, a panel on “Transforming Urban Mobility in the Mediterranean region” was organized in partnership with UITP and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). The panel was attended by the delegation of UMT headed by Deputy Secretary General Dr. Ramazan Özcan Yıldırım.
The delegation visited the fair and held meetings with the representatives of Turkish companies.
Following the visits, Dr. Ramazan Özcan Yıldırım, Deputy Secretary General of the UMT, took part as a speaker in the program organized jointly with UfM. The opening remarks made by Ambassador Erdal Sabri Ergen, Deputy Secretary General for Transport and Urban Development of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of UITP and María José Rallo, Secretary General for Transport and Mobility of the Spanish Ministry of Transport. After the opening speeches, Francesc Carbonell, Head of UfM Transport Sector, made a presentation on "Regional Transport Action Plans" (RTAP) in the Mediterranean region.
The panel discussion was moderated by UITP Senior Director of Membership & Global Operations Kaan Yıldızgöz. In the panel, Secretary General for Transport and Mobility at the Spanish Ministry of Transport María José Rallo, Director of Transport Planning Studies at the Jordanian Ministry of Transport Qais Qaqzeh, Mayor of Sale Omar Sentissi, Deputy Director General of Transport in Casablanca Nadia Bouhriz, Head of Mobility and Transport Unit at the European Commission Torsten Klimke and Deputy Secretary General of the UMT Dr. Ramazan Özcan Yıldırım was attended. Yıldırım talked about the works carried out by UMT on transportation in the panel. Yıldırım said that Türkiye is one of the countries affected by population growth, increasing energy needs and migration. Yıldırım stated that UMT works in partnership with the Ministries, intensively trains municipalities, and provides trainings on greenhouse gas inventory and sustainable transportation plans. Yıldırım stated that UMT works in partnership with the Ministries, intensively trains municipalities, and provides trainings on greenhouse gas inventory and sustainable transportation plans. Yıldırım also emphasized that over 20 cities in Türkiye have prepared transportation master plans. He said they help municipalities to make the right resource planning. He stated they are working to respond to the needs of municipalities by using economies of scale. He added that they act as a bridge between local governments and the central government.
Responding to a question about the earthquake in Türkiye, Yıldırım said that consultation meetings were held immediately after the earthquake and the heads of the relevant departments were brought together with the organization of the UMT. He stated that the damaged roads were identified with the help of drones and repairs were carried out quickly, especially to reach the earthquake zone. Yıldırım said that there was no electricity in the first days and alternative modes of transportation were used, and that vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles were able to move easily among the rubble and that this was how aid was delivered. He mentioned that they evaluated the situation from the psychology of the personnel who went to help in these difficult situations to many different areas. Also added carried out studies in all these areas.
On the second day of the program, the delegation visited Selen Evcit, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Barcelona. Yıldırım informed Consul General Evcit about the summit and the panel. Afterwards, the delegation met with Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Erdal Sabri Ergen at the UfM headquarters and exchanged ideas on potential cooperation opportunities.