Major regional transport initiatives under spotlight at Smart Move

Together with urban public transport experts from Jordan, Syria, Iran, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Nasser Saeed, Chairman of Dubai Light Rail, will be the keynote speaker at this year's event.

"With a strong emphasis on networking and contact-making, Smart Move provides delegates the ideal opportunity to see the latest in urban transport technology, hear about the latest in regional public transport developments, meet the region's leading public transport officials, and source new suppliers," said Davyd Farrell, Project Manager of IIR Middle East's Smart Move conference.

"Having gained considerable momentum in the last few months, the stage is set for actual groundbreaking of the Dubai Light Rail project as early as April 2005. Delegates at this year's Smart Move conference will be provided with the latest update on the development of this pioneering venture," added Farrell.

Presentations focusing on the construction, implementation, ongoing maintenance and management process for a number of integrated urban transport systems will form the crux of the event. These will be conducted by leading international figures and municipal authorities including local spokespeople from Dubai Municipality, Dubai Transport, and Emirates Transport, all associated sponsors.

Nabil Barakat, Director of Traffic and Transport Engineering Directorate, Governate of Damascus, Syria; Dr. Mohammad Hamed, Director General, Jordan Public Transport Regulatory Commission; and Eng. Saad Hassan Shehata, Chairman of National Authority for Tunnels, Cairo, Egypt are just some of the esteemed regional experts who have been invited to address the delegates. Providing some international insight will be Paul Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of Bangkok Transit System, Bangkok, Thailand and Karim Ghellab, Director General, Moroccan Railways.

IIR Middle East, the organisers of Smart Move, are also responsible for organising the popular Gulf Traffic and MENA Rail conference-exhibitions. In association with public transport experts Transport Roundtable Australasia, Smart Move is officially supported by Saudi Railways, Syrian Railways, General Establishment of Hejaz Railways Syria, Hejaz Jordanian Railway, Aqaba Railway, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and Egyptian National Railway.

This year's Smart Move event will also feature bus and component suppliers, railway and metro suppliers, consultants, infrastructure providers, fare collection systems, signalling and traffic control systems, telecoms, rolling stock and track maintenance, contractors and civil designers and engineers.

Westinghouse Platform Screen Doors (WPSD) a specialist division of UK-based Westinghouse Brakes are among the major exhibitors at this year's exhibition. WPSD is one of the largest and most successful designers and manufacturers of metro platform screen door systems in the world.

"Our attendance at this year's Smart Move event confirms just how important this region is for us. We recognise that projects that are being planned for the region are some of the most modern in the world and are, therefore, ideal candidates for our technology," said one exhibition participant.