From 9 - 11 September, the Asia Pacific Regional Road Safety Conference was successfully held at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila.

With support from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) and the High-Level
Technology Fund (HLTF) the Conference was organized by the Asia-Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), with further support from partners at the FIA Foundation, the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), the Embassy of Sweden in Manila, Bridgestone Asia Pacific and the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety. 

We were delighted to welcome over 250 participants from across Government, civil society, private sector and research institutions, to discuss how targeted investments can drive safer, more sustainable mobility. Of particular note, was the high-level participation from senior Government officials, including Ministeris, Deputy Ministers and senior representatives from Transport, Health and related agencies. 

The conference opened with remarks by ADB Executive Director from Japan, Shigeo Shimizu and Hiroaki Yamaguchi, ADB Senior Director, Transport Sector Office. In his opening remarks, ED Shimizu emphasized that road safety is a priority for JFPR, noting its strong support to initiatives that build data, capacity, and partnerships across the region. He also underscored that “determined and sustained measures can save lives even as mobility and motorization increase,” and reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to APRSO.

The conference featured several high-level sessions, including a Ministerial Roundtable on addressing road
safety in their respective countries, and other sessions that focused on global and regional lessons learned from
initiatives that work, as well as collaborative strategies to improve funding mechanisms to improve road safety. Concurrent workshops focusing on powered two-wheeler safety, policy outcomes and safer road infrastructure were also a critical element of the event. 

Keynote addresses from the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety Mr. Jean Todt, Director of Human and Social Development for ADB Mr. Eduardo Banzon and CEO and Principal of Global Road Safety Solutinos Dr. Soames Job, also provided essential insight into new and emerging opportunties to address the ongoing road safety crisis in Asia and the Pacific. 

Our members played a very active role throughout the conference, with presentations provided by representatives from Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Samoa. 

The conference also hosted several side meetings, including the APRSO Annual Meeting, which was attended by a range of our valued members, and gave an opportunity to discuss recent activities, key achievements and future directions. The FIA Foundation also launched the Safer Helmets for Asia Pacific initiative alongside the Conference, which gave further emphasis to the issue of motorcycle safety.

We look forward to continuing to engage with our members and stakeholders to take forward key actions and ideas to strengthen financing and investment for road safety in Asia and the Pacific.