The World Road Association (PIARC) is a non-political and non-profit making association which was founded in 1909 after the first World Road Congress held in Paris in 1908. The Association has been in consultative status with the United Nation Economic and Social Council since 1970. At the end of 2009, the Association's membership covers 142 countries with individual and collective members, regional authorities and 118 member governments. The action of the Association is supported at national level by 33 PIARC National Committees or organizations recognized as such, which are presently active in 37 countries.

PIARC exists to improve international co-operation and to foster progress in the field of roads and road transport within an integrated sustainable transport context by :

• being a leading international forum for analysis and discussion of the full spectrum of transport issues relating to roads and road transport,
• identifying, developing and disseminating best practice and giving better access to international information,
• full consideration in its activities of the needs of developing countries and countries in transition,
• developing and promoting efficient tools for decision making on matters related to roads and road transport.

To achieve aforementioned aims, the World Road Association undertakes the following activities :

• Technical Committees: it creates and coordinates Technical Committees to undertake study on various topics related to roads and road transport issues.
• World Congresses: it organizes every four years a World Road Congress, and an International Winter Road Congress.
• International Seminars: it organizes PIARC International Seminars to develop the exchanges with developing and transition countries and the dissemination of PIARC activities in those countries.
• Publications: it publishes a wide range of documents available on-line from the Virtual Library of its website and a quarterly magazine "ROUTES/ROADS".

For further information: www.piarc.org/en/