On the Road to Barcelona with our 2023 partners: The UITP Global Summit hosts its latest local launch in Madrid  

What does it mean to host the world’s largest event focused on advancing urban mobility?

And what does the road towards those four days in June look like when engaging with the local partners, national cities and country that will help make the UITP Global Summit a success?

On Monday 6 March, UITP and our 2023 Summit local partners, FGC, TMB and Renfe welcomed guests to the beautiful venue of Calle de Santa Isabel in Madrid for a very special event to present the Summit in the Spanish capital.

Following our first local Summit launch in the 2023 host city of Barcelona, where more than 200 CEOs, politicians, press and industry leaders gathered, we knew that a second edition would soon follow, building on the success of last September.

Collaboration is key to the Summit’s success, and this will be our focus all the way to when Barcelona will become the world’s public transport capital for four days this June (4-7 June 2023).

With the UITP delegation in Madrid led by President Khalid ALHOGAIL and Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani, our local partners, members, external stakeholders and representatives from the Spanish media were on board to discuss the programme, exhibition and what it means to host the next edition in Barcelona.

So as the train prepares to pull up on the tracks this June, what were the key takeaways from our second local Summit launch?

Before having the opportunity to network in our beautiful Madrid venue, the audience enjoyed a programme of speeches, presentations, agreement signings, promotional videos, and a high-profile panel discussion.

As the day’s proceedings began, UITP President Khalid ALHOGAIL gave an exclusive interview to LaVanguardia newspaper, followed by a high-level press gathering, with our Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani, Advocacy lead Dionisio Gonzalez, FGC, TMB and Renfe, where local and national journalists asked questions on the programme, exhibition and the positive economical, cultural and social impacts the Summit will bring to Barcelona, and to wider Spain.

Alongside our own President, we welcomed to the stage the Presidents of FGC, TMB and Renfe, Toni Segarra, Gerardo Lertxundi and Raul Blanco, who each spoke about the importance of the UITP Summit to the public transport sector in Barcelona and Spain.

Weaved throughout the day’s activities – where important examples of how collaborative an occasion the UITP Summit truly is –were the signing of agreements between UITP and ATUC, ALAMYS and ATM.

With a continued focus on hearing from the voices that matter, our local launch in Madrid hosted a special round table discussion on cities, people, and the future of public transport with Miguel Ruiz, ATUC President and CEO of EMT Málaga, Silvia Roldán, ALAMYS President and CEO of Metro Madrid, and Pere Torres, ATM General Director, and kindly moderated by Susana Palomino, UITP Policy Board member and Head of Marketing and Communication of Metro Bilbao.

No UITP event would be complete without hearing from our President and Secretary General who both spoke about the importance of gathering with our local partners and how vital a collaborative effort will be to making the 2023 Summit a huge success.

As a four day event with a diverse Conference programme and an outstanding international Exhibition full of the latest innovations, solutions and products, the Summit is the event for your calendars.

The 2023 edition will be the 65th UITP Global Summit, and it arrives in a city that has it all: metro, bus, tram, train and even cable cars. Full of culture, heritage and energy, Barcelona is the perfect location for the most important gathering in our sector.

With the spotlight ready to shine under our 2023 theme “Bright Light of the City”, the road to Barcelona is set…

Registration is ongoing! Will you be joining us? 

The UITP Global Public Transport Summit heads to Barcelona in June

UITP President speaks with LaVanguardia newspaper