The International Transport Forum (ITF), a global intergovernmental organization under the OECD comprising 69 member countries, held its 2025 Summit from May 21 to 23. The event brought together transport ministers from around the world, along with key stakeholders from across the global transport sector. As part of the Sugarcane Ethanol Project, and in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), the Brazilian Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Association (UNICA) participated in the event, represented by Mrs. Raquel Lages.
This year’s theme, “Enhancing Transport Resilience to Global Shocks,” set the tone for the discussions. A key highlight of the first day was the growing recognition of biofuels as a crucial solution for decarbonizing the global transport sector. In a high-level panel featuring experts such as Gerard Ostheimer from the Biofuture Council, the role of biofuels in creating a cleaner and more resilient transport system was strongly emphasized. On the same day, Brazil’s success with biofuels—presented during a panel organized by the Brazilian National Transport Confederation (CNT)—was highlighted as a compelling example of how renewable fuels can reduce emissions, improve energy security, and mitigate risks in land transportation.
On the second day of the program, innovation in the automotive industry took center stage. Cleaner vehicle technologies are playing an increasingly critical role in shaping the future of sustainable and resilient mobility, helping countries advance decarbonization and develop modern transport systems.
The Open Ministerial Session underscored the importance of public-private partnerships. Cross-sector collaboration can strengthen institutional frameworks and unlock investments in clean, cutting-edge technologies—paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient global transport system.
The Summit also offered attendees a range of site visits, including a tour of Porsche’s production center in Leipzig. There, participants observed firsthand how the company is implementing advanced manufacturing technologies to meet evolving customer demands. Another off-site experience included a visit to Amazon’s Leipzig logistics center, where attendees gained insight into a highly efficient warehouse operation and had the opportunity to engage directly with executive leadership on key operational topics.
Under the Chilean Presidency, led by the Honorable Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Mr. Juan Carlos Muñoz Abogab, the ITF 2025 Summit tackled the world’s most pressing transport challenges through a holistic and forward-looking approach. Biofuels were prominently recognized as a vital component of the global solution for sustainable mobility and resilience.
The 2025–2026 term will be led by Azerbaijan’s presidency, continuing the dialogue and advancing efforts toward more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient transport systems worldwide.
About Sugarcane Ethanol Project
ApexBrasil and UNICA made public in 2008, through the Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol partnership, a strategy to promote the image of sugarcane products abroad, especially Brazilian ethanol as a clean and renewable energy. In 2023, the two entities signed an agreement that provides for shared investments.
The sectoral project aims to influence the process of building the image of ethanol and other sugarcane derivatives among the main global opinion makers – governments and the media, as well as trading companies, potential investors and importers, NGOs and consumers.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. In order to achieve its goals, ApexBrasil carries out several trade promotion initiatives aimed at promoting Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business rounds, support to the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion makers to learn about the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that also aim at strengthening the Brazil brand. The Agency also acts in a coordinated way with public and private players to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil with a focus on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.
