DUSHANBE, September 15, 2009, Asia-Plus -- President Emomali Rahmon has been awarded the Order for Merit of the International Road and Transport Union (IRU).  Tajik leader has been awarded the order for hi contributions to revival of the Great Silk Road.

The IRU Secretary General Martin Marmi bestowed the order on President Rahmon in Dushanbe on September 15.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Marmi said that Tajik president had been awarded the IRU Order for Merit for his contributions to the revival of the Great Silk Road.

“President Rahmon has offered the opening of IRU’s office for Central Asia in Dushanbe and we will consider this proposal,” the IRU secretary general said.

According to him, they have also reached an agreement to hold an international conference on development of transit potentials of Central Asia’s states in Dushanbe next year. 

The International Road and Transport Union (IRU), founded in Geneva on March 23, 1948, is the international organization, which upholds the interests of the road transport industry worldwide.  Via its network of 180 national Member Associations in 74 countries across all five continents, it represents the operators of buses, coaches, taxies and trucks, fro large fleets to individual owner-operators.