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By Choi Kyong-ae

LEIPZIG, Germany, May 7 (Yonhap) -- The International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit, the world's largest annual gathering of transport ministers, on Thursday added three new members and adopted two policy recommendations this year aimed at strengthening resilience in the transport sector.

Transport ministers from the ITF's 69 member countries voted to admit Ghana, Peru and Panama as new members, bringing total membership to 72. The ITF acts as a transport policy think tank for the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

"Each of these countries will bring a distinct and valuable transport perspective to the forum," Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's minister of digital development and transport and the presidency representative of this year's summit, said at a press conference.

In particular, Ghana has been actively expanding its role as a regional transport hub in West Africa through investments in railways, ports and navigation infrastructure, he said.

Ghanaian Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe said joining the ITF would give the country access to ideas, partnerships and financing opportunities that could help improve trade performance, strengthen connectivity, enhance road safety and attract investment into the transport sector.

"This year's summit theme, 'Funding Resilient Transport,' speaks directly to the challenge facing many developing economies: how to finance transport infrastructure in a way that is sustainable, bankable and future-ready," he said.

This photo taken May 7, 2026, shows Ghanaian Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe (3rd from L) speaking during a press conference at the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) in Leipzig, Germany, on Ghana's admission to the International Transport Forum (ITF) alongside Peru and Panama as new members this year. (Yonhap)

According to the ITF, Ghana is the first sub-Saharan African country to join the organization. Panama plays an important role in global supply chains, while Peru is regarded as one of Latin America's major economies.

The ministers also adopted two policy recommendations -- one on the digitalization of international freight transport connectivity and another on urban transport development.

The recommendation on digitalization calls for a transition toward fully digital and interoperable systems, including electronic documentation, automated data exchange and integrated digital platforms. It also emphasizes the need for clear strategies, investment in digital skills and strong governance frameworks.

The ITF said digitalization could facilitate international transport connectivity by reducing transit times, improving supply chain resilience and reliability, and enhancing the visibility of cross-border flows, thereby supporting trade competitiveness, economic growth and deeper regional integration.

The recommendation on urban transport development aims to help cities meet rising mobility demand while reducing congestion and promoting the use of digital technologies, including real-time data and intelligent traffic management systems, to optimize existing infrastructure.

"The recommendation also addresses the rise of new mobility services, such as shared mobility and micromobility, encouraging their safe and data-driven integration into urban transport systems," Nabiyev said.

Separately, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba held a press conference seeking financial support for the country's reconstruction projects.

Kuleba said a group of like-minded ITF member countries had established the Common Interest Group for Transport in Ukraine (CIG4U) to support Ukraine in maintaining and rebuilding its transport systems during the war and in the longer-term postwar reconstruction process.

He also referred to the Ukraine Transport Support Fund (UTSF), launched in February by Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Lithuania, as a new mechanism designed to collect voluntary contributions from donor countries and allocate funding to transport projects identified by Ukraine as priorities.

"Transport is not only about the economy and logistics under conditions of full-scale war. The transport system is also about national security," he said.

At the ITF Summit, Sweden, Germany and Norway announced their readiness to provide initial contributions to the fund, Kuleba said, adding that the money would be used for the development and restoration of Ukraine's transport sector.

This photo taken May 7, 2026, and provided by the International Transport Forum (ITF), shows Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba (C) attending a ministers' roundtable session at the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) in Leipzig, Germany. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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