ports

Habib Turki Elected IRU Secretary General

Habib Turki has officially assumed office as secretary general of the International Road Transport Union following his May election by the IRU General Assembly. He replaces Umberto de Pretto, who held the position for 13 years. Turki brings nearly two decades of international experience in transport, trade, tourism and sustainable development. The IRU, representing the road transport industry for almost 80 years, collaborates with governments and private sector stakeholders to facilitate global trade and strengthen supply chains. Turki previously served as the organization's regional adviser for the Middle East between 2015 and 2018. In this role, he spearheaded TIR Convention ratification across Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Saudi Arabia while overseeing implementation in the UAE. He joined the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 2019. Turki stated that road transport is the backbone of the global economy, connecting people, businesses and communities.