The 60th edition of the biennial UITP World Congress & Exhibition in Geneva concluded with figures that showed that the global movement for sustainable mobility is gaining further momentum. A total of 2,097 participants from 78 countries came to the show to learn from each other and share innovative solutions that will help transform urban mobility in the years ahead. The number of participants represented a 34 per cent increase as compared to the 2011 edition held in Dubai.
The Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, running alongside the Congress, received some 25,000 visitors across the 30,000 m² of exhibition space and also saw a considerable increase in the number of exhibitors at 326, almost 30 per cent more than in Dubai.
“The fact that 2,097 people from 78 countries came together in Geneva shows not only that sustainable mobility is a rapidly expanding industry but that it’s also a motor for economic growth and job creation,” said the UITP Secretary General, Mr. Alain Flausch. “A further 7 million jobs in public transport operating companies alone could be created all over the world if we achieve our objective of doubling the market share of public transport by 2025. The figures from
Geneva are thus greatly encouraging for the whole sustainable mobility industry”.
In Geneva, UITP also launched the worldwide ‘Grow with Public Transport’ action which will take place during September 16-22. The UITP members all around the world will display the same ‘Grow with Public Transport’ message (on trams, buses, metro stations, websites, etc.) to demonstrate that there is a united world movement to make cities better places to work and live in. As many as 240 applications from over 40 countries for the first Grow with Public Transport Awards in Geneva illustrated the momentum already gained by the movement.
In Geneva, UITP officially handed over the UITP flag to Milan where the 61st edition of the event will take place in June 2015.