The Spanish Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Turkish counterpart, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. The agreement seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in infrastructure and transport development, with a particular focus on the rail, maritime, and aviation sectors, as well as promoting digitalization, resilience, and sustainability.
![[Img # 63549]](https://empresaexterior.com/upload/images/06_2025/8325_oscar-puente-firma-un-memorando-de-entendimiento-con-turquia.jpg)
The signing of the MoU It is part of the excellent relationship between Spain and Türkiye and the mutual desire to strengthen ties. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation during a bilateral meeting prior to the signing.
The memorandum details cooperation in the areas of transport and infrastructure, recognizing the "vital role of transport corridors in maintaining the global supply chain and contributing to social and economic development." It also highlights the potential of Spain and Turkey as logistics hubs and their willingness to work together to improve international transport connectivity.
Among the specific collaborations, the agreement includes the exchange of information, best practices, and the development of pilot projects. It also includes the provision of advisory services and technical assistance, as well as cooperation in research, technological development, and innovation. The joint organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, and training programs is also part of the memorandum.
World Forum on Transport Connectivity 2025: A Global Stage
In the context of his official visit to Istanbul, Minister Puente participated in the World Forum on Transport Connectivity 2025, inaugurated by the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During his intervention in a panel on the challenges and opportunities in the international transport corridorsPuente highlighted the strategic role of Spain and Türkiye as “strategic hubs that facilitate global transport and trade.”
The minister emphasized that the international corridors They are "an important public policy instrument" and "key to regional and global connectivity." He argued that they are more than infrastructure; they are a fundamental element for strengthening social and territorial cohesion, stimulating growth and employment, and defining regional geopolitics.
Puente identified the main challenge as ensuring the completion of cross-border connections and the continuity of corridors, which requires political will and agreement. He also emphasized the need to balance environmental policies with the competitiveness of the transport sector, stating that "sustainability and economic development are two sides of the same coin."
The minister also referred to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) as an opportunity for integration and materialization of EU Single Market, emphasizing that this has been a first-class policy for Spain. He noted that the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors can turn the Iberian Peninsula into a "gateway, not a dead end."
Spain, a benchmark in railway technology and support for national companies
Puente emphasized that the railway is the backbone of the Spanish transportation system, highlighting strategic planning and public investment as keys to its success. He stated that Spain is a "global leader in the development of railway technology" and offered the country's experience for future development of international and regional corridors.
The minister's agenda in Istanbul concluded with a meeting with representatives of Spanish companies in the transport sector in Turkey, to whom he expressed his support and gratitude for their work and the important projects they are developing. He also held meetings with the vice president of the World Bank and their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Lithuania and Albania.
