Leipzig: Top transport officials from member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including South Korea, gathered in Germany to discuss measures to improve the resilience of the transport sector amid challenges involving global trade tensions and climate change.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the three-day 2025 International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit commenced in Leipzig under the theme "Transport Resilience to Global Shocks," drawing participation from approximately 1,200 officials from over 80 countries, including the United States, Germany, and Chile. The summit is focused on the international community's efforts to respond to supply chain disruptions affecting the transport sector, ranging from maritime to aviation transport, and to address environmental and security challenges.
A special ministers' roundtable session was planned for discussions on joint efforts to support the swift recovery of Ukraine's transport sector, which has been severely impacted by its ongoing conflict with Russia. ITF Secretary General Kim Young-tae emphasized the increasing uncertainty in global transport links and highlighted the growing vulnerability of supply chains as they become more interconnected.
Kim also pointed out the rising threat of cyber attacks due to heavy investments in digitizing transport sectors worldwide and noted that climate change poses significant risks, potentially disrupting operations at 40 percent of global ports. When questioned about the impact of rising trade protectionism, Kim acknowledged the challenges faced by the transport sector due to tariff issues and geopolitical tensions, citing a report from global maritime consultancy Drewry that forecasts a 1 percent drop in global container shipping volume by 2025 as a result of U.S. trade policies.
Furthermore, South Korean Transport Minister Park Sang-woo was scheduled to attend the ministers' roundtable on transport and climate change at the ITF summit to discuss South Korea's public transportation policies. Park also planned to engage in talks with infrastructure officials from Poland and Ukraine to explore expanded cooperation on Ukraine's reconstruction efforts and broader industrial collaboration in smart city and transport infrastructure projects.