THE International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the UITP Centre for Transport Excellence at LTA's Academy in Singapore. The centre will become a land transport knowledge and research hub for the Asia Pacific region through conferences, seminars, training, exhibitions and study tours. The centre's first initiative will be to stage the inaugural LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress in October 2013.

"Ever evolving societies, changing commuters' behaviours and escalating expectations make managing transport in a city a work in progress," says Mr Hans Rat, UITP's secretary general.

"Through collaborating with renowned organisations such as the UITP, we can acquire cutting edge knowledge, which helps us to deliver a land transport system that meets the diverse needs of an inclusive society and one that provides for a liveable and vibrant global city," says Mr Chew Hock Yong, LTA's chief executive.