- ANTARA FOTO/Wahyu Putro A
Jakarta – Indonesia has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2024-2025 period through an election held during the 33rd Session of the IMO Assembly in London on Friday.
The transportation minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated that Indonesia's success in getting re-elected as a category C member of the IMO Council serves as proof of the international community's acknowledgement of Indonesia's presence in the global maritime sector.
"This feat will provide Indonesia with opportunities to participate in formulating IMO policies that are highly influential on the world of maritime affairs," the Minister said in a statement on Saturday.
Menteri Perhubungan Budi Karya Sumadi.
- Dok. Kemenhub
The Minister further extended his appreciation to Indonesian delegates, who had been making various efforts, including through diplomatic channels, to make Indonesia's re-nomination to the IMO Council a success.
"Let us make the most of this momentum to continue the development of the maritime sector in the hopes of evenly distributing benefits to the people," Minister Sumadi remarked.
Meanwhile, Transportation Ministry's Director General of Sea Transportation Antoni Arif Priadi revealed that a total of 135 out of 175 IMO member countries voted for Indonesia during the election of IMO Council category C members.
"Indonesia was among the 20 countries elected as category C members of the IMO Council from the total of 24 countries nominated," he said at the organization's headquarters in London.
Priadi stated that Indonesia had been proactively making crucial contributions as a member country of the IMO.
Members of the IMO Council are grouped into three categories: Category A, category B, and Category C.
Category A members of the council represent countries with the largest interest in shipping services. A total of 10 countries have been elected as IMO Council members in this category, namely Greece, Italy, Japan, China, Panama, Norway, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Liberia.
Some 10 other countries have been elected to the council in the category B, namely India, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Spain, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. They represent countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has again been re-elected as category C member of the council, along with Singapore, Malta, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, the Philippines, Chile, Malaysia, the Bahamas, Cyprus, Morocco, Denmark, Qatar, Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Finland, and Jamaica.
The 20 category C members of the IMO Council are countries that have special interests in maritime transport and navigation and can represent all of the world's major geographical areas.
During the 33rd Session of the IMO Assembly, the Indonesian Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) also succeeded in getting re-appointed as an external auditor of the IMO for the 2024-2027 term.
Minister Sumadi and Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the IMO Desra Percaya, at the session, led the Indonesian delegation that comprised representatives from various institutions, including ministries and state-owned enterprises.
