Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
The World Road Association, PIARC, has long been committed to international co-operation. We work hard at developing and maintaining close and useful relations with international and regional organisations that have a connection with roads and road transport. Our aim, consistent with our Mission, is to share knowledge and information, avoid wasteful duplication and to add value through active collaboration when and where it is appropriate to do so.
One such organisation with whom we have always shared good relations, and with whom we are now looking to build much closer relations, is the International Road Federation (IRF). Because the IRF does not have a major congress this year, we are particularly pleased to provide IRF with the opportunity here at this PIARC Congress to present their 2007 Man-of-the-Year Award.
To do so, I am delighted to be able to welcome to the stage the President of the International Road Federation, Mr Peter Boyd.
The IRF 2007 Man-of-the-Year award was presented to Eng. Abdullah Al-Mogbel, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, First Delegate for PIARC of Saudi Arabia, by Mr Peter J. Boyd, Chairman of the International Road Federation.
