President Mandalozis Represents IRF in Strategic Connectivity Investment Discussion
17 - 18 June | Thessaloniki, Greece - The International Road Federation (IRF), represented by IRF President Dimitrios Mandalozis and IRF Senior Advisor Brendan Halleman, attended Transport Investment Summit.
Organised by the Transport Community, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and hosted by the Hellenic Republic with the support of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), the Summit serves as a key platform for advancing transport connectivity and infrastructure development across the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova.
As countries work to modernise infrastructure, strengthen economic resilience and deepen integration with European transport networks, discussions focused on accelerating project delivery, improving investment readiness and strengthening cooperation among governments, development banks and the private sector.
IRF President Dimitrios Mandalozis joined a panel titled “The Next Wave of Connectivity: Emerging Investment Opportunities Across the Regions”, which examined topics like where the next generation of transport and logistics investments is likely to emerge, how regions can strengthen their position within evolving European and global supply chains and what conditions are needed to attract long-term public and private capital.
The discussion reflects a broader shift in how transport infrastructure is viewed. Across Europe and its neighbouring regions, connectivity is increasingly recognised not only as a transport objective but also as a driver of economic competitiveness, supply-chain resilience, energy security and geopolitical stability.
During the session, President Mandalozis shared perspectives of infrastructure operators and investors, addressing what makes transport corridors commercially credible and attractive for long-term investment. He emphasised that transport planning must focus on the performance of entire corridors rather than individual projects. While infrastructure investments can deliver significant benefits, their value is diminished if critical bottlenecks such as border crossings remain unresolved.
President Mandalozis also highlighted the importance of maintaining infrastructure throughout its lifecycle. Long-term competitiveness depends not only on delivering new projects but also on ensuring that assets continue to perform efficiently over the decades that follow. Sustainable infrastructure management, operational reliability and consistent maintenance are therefore essential components of successful connectivity strategies.
A further focus of his intervention will be investor confidence.
"One of the strongest signals a region can send to international investors is predictability. Stable priorities, transparent rules and reliable institutions provide the certainty required for long-term investment decisions and help create an environment in which infrastructure projects can attract both public and private capital." - President Mandalozis
President Mandalozis was joined by a distinguished panel of policymakers and industry leaders, including Christophe Galand, Head of Unit for the Western Balkans at DG ENEST; H.E. Christos Stavrou Dimas, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Hellenic Republic; H.E. Vladimir Bolea, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova; H.E. Aleksandra Sofronijević, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia; H.E. Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine; Tatjana Shterjova Dushkovska, Operations Director for Development, Innovation and Knowledge at the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia; and Michalis Viridis of Milsped.
IRF and TANROADS Explore Future Road Safety and Capacity Building Initiatives in Tanzania
16 June | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - The International Road Federation (IRF) continues to strengthen its partnership with the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) through ongoing efforts to build local capacity and improve road safety outcomes across the country following its recently concluded training programme with the Tanzania Road Safety Initiative (TARSI).
As part of the IRF Road Safety Audit (RSA) Training Programme, supported by the TotalEnergies Foundation, IRF Lead Trainer Eur Ing Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos met with representatives from TANROADS and other road safety organisations to discuss future collaboration opportunities aimed at advancing professional expertise and institutional capacity within Tanzania's transport sector.
The conversation focused on expanding capacity-building activities across IRF's five learning verticals: road safety, sustainable asset management, traffic engineering and intelligent transport systems, digitisation and automation, and road project management.
Potential training areas that could support Tanzania's evolving infrastructure and mobility priorities while strengthening the long-term capabilities of national institutions were also discussed.
Building on the success of the RSA programme, emphasis was placed on the need to establish a sustainable national ecosystem for road safety auditing, bringing together government agencies, professional bodies, academic institutions and industry stakeholders.
The meeting marked an important step in defining future areas of cooperation between IRF and TANROADS, reinforcing a shared commitment to safer roads, stronger institutions and sustainable transport development in Tanzania.
Latest IRF Road Safety Auditors Training Programme Concludes in Tanzania
12 June | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania - The International Road Federation (IRF) has successfully concluded a 10-day Road Safety Audit Accreditation Training Programme at the National Institute of Transport (NIT).
Delivered by IRF Lead Trainer Eur Ing Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos in partnership with the Tanzania Road Safety Initiative (TARSI) and supported by TotalEnergies Foundation, the programme brought together road safety professionals and practitioners committed to improving road safety outcomes across Tanzania.
The training equipped participants with internationally recognised knowledge and practical skills in Road Safety Auditing, enabling them to conduct formal and independent safety assessments throughout the planning, design, construction and operation of road projects.
By strengthening local expertise, the programme contributes to the development of safer road infrastructure and supports efforts to reduce road crashes and fatalities.
A key outcome of the programme is the pathway it provides to the IRF International Registry for Road Safety Auditors. The IRF Auditors Registry is a platform that recognises certified professionals qualified to conduct road safety audits in accordance with internationally established requirements.
Registered auditors carry out formal and independent safety reviews at every stage of a road project, from feasibility studies and preliminary design through to detailed design, construction, pre-opening inspections and audits of existing roads.
Through initiatives such as this, the IRF continues to support the development of skilled road safety professionals worldwide, helping countries strengthen institutional capacity and create safer roads, safer journeys and safer communities.
IRF Strengthens Road Safety Auditing Capacity in Uganda Through International Auditor Training Programme
24 April 2026 | Uganda, Africa - The International Road Federation (IRF) continues to expand its efforts to improve global road safety standards, with IRF Lead Trainer Eur Ing Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos in Uganda delivering advanced road safety audit training as part of the IRF International Registry for Road Safety Auditors Programme.
Developed by IRF with the support of TotalEnergies Foundation, the International Registry for Road Safety Auditors was established to strengthen the quality and consistency of road safety auditing worldwide. The registry ensures that both road safety auditors and the training programmes that certify them meet internationally recognised standards. It also serves as a reliable resource for governments, contractors and development partners seeking to identify qualified auditors and verify professional credentials.
This initiative addresses a critical need in road infrastructure development: ensuring that road safety audits are conducted by professionals with the knowledge, technical expertise and practical skills required to identify and mitigate road safety risks. By creating an internationally recognised benchmark for auditor qualifications, the registry helps promote greater accountability and improved road safety outcomes across regions.
Now in its third year of implementation, the programme has delivered road safety audit training courses in Tanzania, Uganda and India. Each year, auditors in these countries participate in a structured training pathway designed to build national expertise and strengthen local road safety auditing capacity. Through this sustained multi-year approach, the programme is helping to establish a stronger foundation for safer road design, improved infrastructure planning and more effective road safety management systems.
Participants who successfully complete the written and practical examinations are entered directly into the International Registry for Road Safety Auditors. This formal recognition provides them with a clear pathway toward higher levels of professional qualification as they gain practical experience, while also increasing confidence among employers, public authorities and project stakeholders in the quality of road safety auditing services.
Beyond individual certification, the programme is contributing to long-term institutional capacity in participating countries. By equipping engineers and road safety professionals with internationally benchmarked competencies, IRF is helping national agencies and industry stakeholders improve the quality of road safety assessments and embed safer practices into infrastructure development processes.
Through initiatives such as the International Registry for Road Safety Auditors, IRF and TotalEnergies Foundation are supporting the development of a skilled global network of auditors committed to safer roads. As the programme progresses, this growing community of certified professionals will play an increasingly important role in reducing road risks and improving transport safety outcomes for road users worldwide.
