Minister Skuodis to open the ITF High-level Regional Dialogue for Transport in Latin America, to meet with the Chilean Minister of Transport

Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania, is starting his working visit to Chile on Monday, where he will open the International Transport Forum’s (ITF), currently chaired by Lithuania, High-level Dialogue for Transport in Latin America and the Caribbean. He will also meet with the Chilean Minister of Transport and Telecommunications and the heads of international organisations.

During the ITF event, Mr Skuodis will be speaking at the panel discussion on today's regional and global challenges in transport, he will present Lithuania's transport sector and the country’s priorities for the ITF Presidency. Mr Skuodis will brief his colleague on Lithuania’s recent initiatives to garner ITF member countries support to Ukraine, and recently established Common Interest Group for Transport in Ukraine (CIG4U). Minister will also discuss the upcoming Chilean ITF Presidency’s priorities, and ways to further strengthen ITFs support to Ukraine.  Chile will take over the ITF Presidency at the end of May 2024.

Mr Skuodis' meeting with his Chilean counterpart, Mr Juan Carlos Muñoz Abogabir, will focus on preparations for the ITF Summit in Leipzig, Germany, in May – the main event of the Lithuanian ITF Presidency. Additionally, they will discuss the ITF's ongoing efforts to help of Ukraine's transport infrastructure recovery.

Further, the two ministers will exchange on opportunities for facilitating air connectivity with the South American continent, and discuss expansion of bilateral cooperation in maritime transport, logistics and innovation.

The visit, scheduled from 1 to 3 April, will also feature Mr Skuodis's meetings with Mr Jose Antonio Santano Clavero, Spain's Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Mr Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), and Mr Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of the Airports Council International (ACI).

The Minister will also visit the Valparaiso Seaport, the Santiago Electric Bus Depot and the Metro Control Centre, he will also meet with representatives of the Lithuanian diaspora in Chile.