Indonesia Re-elected as International Maritime Member Council

TheIndonesia.id - Minister of Transportation (Menhub), Budi Karya Sumadi, revealed that Indonesia was re-elected as a member of the C category of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2022 – 2023 period gaining 127 votes. The voting was held at IMO headquarters in London on Friday, December 11, 2021.

"Re-electing Indonesia means the world recognizes our existence in the international maritime sector," said Budi Karya Sumadi in an official statement in Jakarta.

There are 175 members of the IMO. Forty of them are members of the IMO Council, divided into three categories (A, B, and C).

Category A contains 10 countries representing the most prominent international commercial shipping fleet and the most significant global sea transportation provider.

Category B contains 10 countries representing the most extensive interests in International Seaborne Trade.

Category C consists of 20 countries, which have the biggest role in maritime transportation or navigation, and represents all the major geographical areas in the world.

The Minister of Transportation stated that becoming a member of the IMO allows Indonesia to determine IMO policies that greatly influence the maritime world.

The Sea Transportation Director of the Ministry of Transportation, Arif Toha, said that the election for IMO Council Members in 2021 was done by a voting system using secret ballots.

"Two representatives of each country participate in the live voting process at the IMO Headquarters in London, while the election process continues to be broadcast virtually," said Arif.

Indonesia was represented by the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK, Ireland, IMO, Desra Percaya, and the Indonesian Transportation Attaché in London, Lollan Panjaitan.