Exploring EU Standards in Urban Transport: Chisinau Delegation at Busworld 2023 Exhibition

A delegation consisting of representatives from the Chisinau City Hall, Chisinau Electric Transport Authority, Urban Bus Park, and partners from Lublin, Poland, participated from October 7th to 11th, 2023, in the Busworld Europe 2023 exhibition held in Brussels, Belgium.

The 50th edition of this event took place in Brussels, Belgium, this year, and is considered the most important global event dedicated to buses, coaches, and their spare parts manufacturers.

The delegation representatives analyzed and acquired knowledge regarding key topics in the bus industry, including the transition to autonomous buses, digitization, services with reduced CO2 emissions, regulations regarding bus imports, and improving road safety through tailored infrastructure.

Over 500 exhibitors took part in the largest international exhibition in the field of buses and coaches. The event drew over 40,000 visitors from more than 130 countries.

Experts from Chisinau had the opportunity to explore the future of urban transport. They examined innovations and trends in the field, staying up-to-date with the latest zero-carbon emission transport systems. Furthermore, delegation members acquainted themselves with the most renowned and innovative bus manufacturers who excelled in design, comfort, energy efficiency, and safety. At this year's global exhibition, Romania presented the first electric bus manufactured in the country. Our authorities had the chance to see how it operates and learn about the company's future plans.

This globally significant event provides an appropriate framework for exchanging experiences, where specialists from the Republic of Moldova had the opportunity to interact in the same place with international experts and representatives of bus manufacturers.

The current trend in public transport services is to transform into an efficient, integrated, sustainable, and safe transport system. In order to achieve European environmental protection and energy efficiency objectives, the majority of the exhibited means of transport at the exhibition are electric, aimed at reducing energy consumption.

The official visit was carried out within the "MOVE IT like Lublin" project, funded by the European Union and implemented through a partnership between the Chisinau City Hall and the Lublin City Hall in Poland.

Context:

The "MOVE IT like Lublin" project - the initiative for the sustainable development of public transport in the municipality of Chisinau, financed by the European Union, is implemented on the basis of a partnership between the City Hall of Chisinau and the City Hall of Lublin in Poland. The project will be implemented by 2025 and will provide support to transform the city's public transport services into a more inclusive, safer, more resilient and sustainable transport system. The total budget of the project is in the amount of 3,500,000 euros, of which 3,325,000 euros is the contribution of the European Union in the form of a grant, and 175,000 euros are allocated by the Chisinau City Hall.