Velo-city and International Transport Forum

Velo-city will be followed by the Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) from 24 to 26 May 2023. Hosted by the OECD, the event has been held at the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) since 2008 and most recently welcomed around 1,000 participants from 60 countries. This makes it all the more gratifying that the CCL once again won the tender. It will remain the annual venue of the ITF up to and including 2027.
In line with the theme of Transport Enabling Sustainable Economies, the future of mobility will play a major role at this year’s ITF. Presided over by the UK, participants will spend three days exploring how sustainable transport can contribute to economic growth and protecting the environment.

The fact that Leipzig was awarded these two events from the field of sustainability is no coincidence. It stands for change like no other European city. Where 30 years ago the city was characterised by open-cast mines, desolate industry and dilapidated roads, today Leipzig is criss-crossed by a green belt. Former open-cast mines have been transformed into a landscape dotted with lakes. The city and the region are focusing on climate-friendly mobility and state-of-the-art transport solutions. Leipzig is thus growing in an economically and demographically sustainable way, which is described in INSEK, the city’s integrated urban development concept. INSEK defines the goals of sustainable mobility, a proactive climate and energy strategy, and preserving the local environment for the city. Logistics as well as energy and environmental technology are also firmly anchored in the key industries of the congress city. On the other hand, in Leipzig of all places, Velo-city finds itself in a city that promotes the bicycle as a mobility solution and already hosts the LVZ Fahrradfest (LVZ Bike Festival), an event that ideally complements the Velo-city Bike Parade.