Address by Sergei Ivanov:

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to greet the organisers, participants and guests of the Russian Transport IV International Forum on behalf of the Russian government and myself.

The transport system plays a special role in the national economy of any country, facilitating effective functioning of enterprises and ensuring uninterrupted movement of cargo and passengers.

The transport industry is one of the leading economic sectors in Russia.

Integration and harmonisation processes are gathering momentum in the global economy.

The establishment of transnational and interstate economic associations has posed new challenges for the transport industry, which can be tackled only through concerted efforts at all levels.

This is why we must work jointly to lower administrative and infrastructure barriers and enhance the attractiveness and accessibility of not only infrastructure assets, but also the transport and logistics business.

One of the priorities of the Russian Transport Strategy through 2030 is to integrate Russia into the global market of transportation services and to further develop its transit potential.

To tackle this objective we are introducing modern technology of interaction between different types of transport and planning the best logistics routes, because Russia's attractiveness as a transit route of international cargo clearly depends on the level of logistic outlays and risks.

By improving our operation in this sphere, cutting time and lowering all kinds of barriers, we will cut the share of transport outlays in the aggregate cost of Russian goods and transit cargo, and will ultimately be able to use the country's transit potential most effectively, to create a new industry, and to harmoniously integrate into the global transport system.

One of the key conditions for achieving this objective is to ensure all-round development of the transport corridors running across Russia.

A good example is the Europe-West China highway, a key corridor linking Russia to Central Asian countries. Its construction is stipulated in a memorandum signed by the transport ministers of Kazakhstan, China and Russia in 2009.

I think we should work jointly to implement projects aimed at improving our countries' transport infrastructure.

Such projects need additional support in such periods as now, when we are trying to overcome the consequences of the global economic crisis. This is why we are trying to encourage the interest of everyone who could invest in modernizing transport technology, vehicles and infrastructure.

But problems in the transport industry can be successfully resolved only if we ensure a sustainable development of its financial and technical aspects and consistently improve the quality of transport services, introduce modern transport and logistic technologies, and raise the IT standards on transport.

This implies innovation-based development of all segments of the transport industry. This approach is sealed in our strategic documents and federal targeted programmes, which outline prospects for Russia's strategic socio-economic development.

We believe that transport as a major user of innovations can propel the transport engineering, construction materials and equipment sectors to a higher technological level by encouraging demand for modern vehicles, technology and materials.

In addition, the Russian transport industry's innovation-based development is aimed at improving the quality of life through the provision of modern transport and logistic services satisfying the demand, as well as quality, reliability, safety, environmental friendliness and price affordability standards.

When introducing innovations in the transport industry, we will have to use global experience and cutting-edge technology and adapt them to Russian realities.

This is why we are seeking to further develop economic partnerships.

In this context, the Russian Transport IV International Forum offers a good opportunity of exchanging experience and finding joint solutions that will enhance the standards of cooperation in the transport industry.

I wish all forum participants success and effective and fruitful work.

Thank you.