International Transport Summit 2024
The International Transport Summit took place in Moscow from August 21 to 25, with the city’s Situation Center serving as its main venue. The event was organized by the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow in collaboration with the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development.
The Moscow Center for International Cooperation acted as the event operator.
Participants included city leaders, transport and digital development ministers, heads of transport and technology companies, road infrastructure specialists, and representatives of the academic community.
The summit emerged as a premier expert platform for addressing pressing transport challenges facing megacities. It aimed to identify trends in transport development, facilitate international exchange of advanced technologies, and establish new business connections in urban development. The project helps refine transport policies, strengthen interregional partnerships, and identify promising areas for future cooperation. Analyzing current transport conditions enhances mobility systems to better serve city residents.
At the opening ceremony on August 22, Sergey Cheremin, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, welcomed attendees by noting that the International Transport Summit has become a regular event attracting numerous partner cities. Moscow currently collaborates with over 150 cities worldwide. “Representatives from more than 20 countries are participating in this transport summit. We are preparing to sign new agreements, including those related to our UrbanTransportData platform,” Cheremin stated.
Moscow has achieved remarkable results in transport system development. Cheremin recalled that in 2022, UN-Habitat recognized the Russian capital as a global leader in infrastructure quality. “This prestigious recognition reflects the collective efforts of all Muscovites and our colleagues in transport and construction,” he emphasized.
The city builds hundreds of kilometers of new roads annually, opens dozens of metro stations, and ensures seamless integration between transport modes. Moscow’s unified payment system, the Troika card, has gained popularity both within the city and beyond. “Transport development remains a key priority for the metropolis as it enhances urban space capitalization,” Cheremin noted. The introduction of high-speed corridors has increased developer interest, boosted land values, and stimulated construction of new residential and commercial districts – all contributing to Moscow’s economic growth.
Cheremin highlighted Moscow’s Intelligent Transport System (ITS) as one of the world’s most advanced traffic management solutions. During its development between 2011-2013, Moscow specialists carefully studied transport systems in Singapore, Paris, London, and major North American and Asian cities. “By incorporating the best international practices, our transport department colleagues created a unique system that efficiently manages traffic flows while ensuring mobility and safety,” he explained. The system has not only paid for itself but continues generating significant city budget revenues, demonstrating that infrastructure investments yield substantial social returns.
Moscow Deputy Mayor for Transport Maxim Liksutov noted the summit’s growing popularity: “While 60 guests attended in 2023, this year we welcome 107 experts from 29 global megacities.” He emphasized the importance of launching UrbanTransportData, an analytical platform developed by Moscow’s Transport Complex and the Department for External Economic and International Relations that enables data exchange on key urban transport metrics. The platform’s user base continues expanding steadily.
Subsequent summit days featured specialized sessions and roundtables addressing specific transport sector challenges. A dedicated session presented findings from the UrbanTransportData international analytical project. Discussions covered high-speed rail development, water transport, alternative mobility solutions, road safety, digital services, and other industry aspects.
Beyond business sessions, attendees could choose from three thematic tours: “Moscow Rail Infrastructure and Rolling Stock,” “Electric Transport,” and “Digital Transport.” These showcased Moscow’s key infrastructure projects including the Bolshaya Koltsevaya metro line, Moscow Central Diameters, Moscow Central Circle, Sokolnichesky Railcar Repair Plant, electric bus charging stations, and the Unmanned Transport Research Center.