Road infrastructure, as a community asset, has shown itself through the years to be a powerful tool in improving the quality of life and promoting social cohesion. It is imperative that developed and developing countries alike join hands and take responsibility for our shared goals of sustainable development and push back the frontiers of poverty. Road infrastructure has always played a pivotal role in enabling socio-economic development of societies. PIARC since its inception has taken the lead in gathering the world road community at its Congresses to share knowledge, experiences, and cement bonds between its diverse group of members. Although the Strategic Plan directs and guides the activities of PIARC during a given cycle, its main objective of international cooperation and technology transfer has always been retained. During this cycle, the Strategic Plan, inter alia, comprises four themes, namely: Road Administration, Mobility, Resilient Infrastructure, and Safety and Sustainability.

The Congress programme features the presentation of the results of the work undertaken by PIARC’s 24 Committees and Task Forces, as well as several specialized sessions and workshops dealing with topics of current and future interest and a large exhibition in which road administrations, equipment and service providers, consultants and road-related organizations will be present. Ministers will be present to share their views on the status and future of roads and road transport. Experts from around the world, researchers as well as practitioners are also invited to submit articles in answer to the International Call for Papers and to present their views on the technical, social, and economic best practices related to the road sector.

Czechia is proud to host this event and to participate through expert presentations, and we look forward to your visit to Prague, which has inspired scientists, industrialists and artists for centuries. We are confident that the WRC in Prague will be a platform for the creation of new projects, the initiation of constructive discussions and the implementation of new, innovative approaches to road mobility.