It is with great emotion and deep gratitude that I greet the readers of the PIARC newsletter for the first time. Last November, during the PIARC Council meeting in Andorra, I had the honor and privilege of being elected as PIARC President for the 2025-2028 term. It is undoubtedly a tremendous responsibility, but at the same time, it is a great honor to represent the road transport sector at the international level, thanks to an association like PIARC, which is so highly respected and recognized around the world.

I believe that transport should not be seen merely as a system of physical infrastructure crossing countries and territories. To me, transport is, first and foremost, a tool for unity, a bridge connecting people and cultures. In this sense, I am honored to have been chosen to lead the world’s oldest international road transport association. Over its 117-year history, PIARC has played a key role in generating knowledge, conducting studies, and carrying out in-depth analyses of the many technical challenges that make the road transport sector so fascinating and vital.

As representatives of the transport sector, we face many challenges in ensuring safe and sustainable mobility for future generations—road safety, decarbonization, digital transition, and the resilience of our infrastructure. I firmly believe that we must tackle and analyze these challenges together on a global scale, leveraging the expertise of PIARC’s Technical Committees, as well as the strategic guidance of the Executive Committee and the Council, which brings together the member states of our Association.

Finally, to me, being the President of an association does not mean wearing a crown. On the contrary, it means, above all, serving the Association and its members worldwide—listening to their needs, working together to find common solutions, and putting forward initiatives and projects that benefit everyone.

With this spirit of service and collaboration, I wish you an enjoyable read of the PIARC newsletter.