Remarks by the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, Melanie Schultz van Haegen, at the Round Table on ITS, Rio de Janeiro

Toespraak | 20-04-2012

• It is a pleasure to attend this round table on ITS. Let me begin by saying how impressed I am by the breathtaking pace at which Brazil is developing. Brazil has overtaken the UK and is now the sixth- largest economy in the world.
• Some impressive figures from the automotive world:
• Automobile sales in Brazil are set to double, reaching 6.6 million by 2020 [from 3.3 million in 2010]
• The Brazilian car market could become the world's third-largest by 2015, after China and the US. 
• Brazil overtook Germany in 2010 to become the world’s fourth-biggest car market. 
• My country might be small in size compared to Brazil, but it has a large footprint. We are the world’s fifth-largest exporter and the world’s seventh-largest importer. With only 16 million inhabitants, we are 16th in the world economy rankings. After the US, we are the biggest investor in Brazil. And Rotterdam is the most important port for Brazil. The Netherlands is the fourth-biggest export destination for Brazil. 
• Trade and transport are crucial drivers of growth in both our countries. We are investing heavily in our roads, railways, ports, terminals and waterways. This is an uphill struggle because traffic is growing fast. It is not easy to keep up with growing mobility. Our infrastructure network is one of the densest, most intensively used in the world. The same applies to your big cities and industrial areas. We have limited space to expand. We also have to consider the impact on the environment and on road safety of increasing passenger and goods transport. We want our cities to be dynamic but also to be pleasant and safe to live in.

• We need smart solutions to safeguard urban mobility. In short, we need Intelligent Transport Systems – ITS.
• The Netherlands is one of the leaders in ITS solutions and services. My delegation includes representatives of cutting edge companies. The government and the private sector are working closely together and are looking beyond our borders to find new partners. We consider Brazil an important global player.
• Like you here in Rio de Janiero, we are seeking smart solutions that are a step along the way to a safe and sustainable future. We want to get the most out of every mile of road, railway or canal. Efficiency is crucial.
• Whether our cities will be accessible in the future depends on what we do now – how we build roads, apply technology and organise traffic flows. And on how we apply and develop modern means of communication. Let us share our knowledge and experience. 
• I sincerely hope that our visit, and this round table, will strengthen our friendship and close relations. Together we can achieve great benefits for society: safer, smoother, smarter, more sustainable transport!