United Nations Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres has backed IRU¡¯s call to keep goods moving smoothly across borders during the pandemic. Stressing road transport¡¯s key role as a backbone of international supply chains and trade, he also said the industry¡¯s work was crucial in attaining the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Writing to ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Secretary General Umberto de Pretto in response to IRU¡¯s COVID-19 Call to Action, Ant¨®nio Guterres noted the severe impact of the pandemic on road transport operators, adding that IRU¡¯s research on this will help inform the UN¡¯s analytical work.
The UN chief went on to thank ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½for its continuous efforts to promote sustainable transport globally, including by urging countries to keep their borders open during the trying times of the pandemic, especially for goods and essentials.
¡°For more than 70 years ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½has fought for open and efficient borders, and this is now more important than ever,¡± said ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Secretary General Umberto de Pretto. ¡°I welcome the UN Secretary General¡¯s support for our industry¡¯s crucial work and for voicing our shared concern to governments to keep goods moving during the pandemic.¡±
Many other international bodies, including major financial institutions and UN organisations, have also written to ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½responding to the COVID-19 call to action. Governments should heed this endorsement and take action.