Indonesia Backs US in ITU's Secretary General Candidacy

TheIndonesia.id - Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny G. Plate and United States Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Yong Kim on Monday discussed Indonesia-US cooperation in technology, information, and communication sectors. In particular, the meeting discussed both countries' stances on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations.

"We have discussed cooperation between Indonesia and the United States in the technology, information, communications, and digital sectors, as well as deliberated on how our countries can support each other in the ITU," Plate said after the meeting at the ministry office in Jakarta on Monday, March 28, 2022.

ITU will elect a new secretary general soon, and the United States has proposed Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the current director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, as the replacement for Houlin Zhao, he informed. Indonesia will back Bogdan-Martin's candidacy, as proposed by the United States, he revealed.

"The United States has proposed an outstanding candidate that we have discussed and knew well. Indonesia will support the candidate proposed by the United States, which is Doreen Bogdan-Martin," Plate said.

The minister further said that the United States will reciprocate Indonesia's endorsement by offering support to candidates proposed by Indonesia at the ITU, including the ITU Asia-Pacific Council. "We already have a seat in the council, and I also told the Ambassador that we hope the United States will extend its support for Indonesia in the ITU's Radio Regulation Board," he added.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Kim praised Indonesia for extending its support to the ITU secretary general candidate proposed by the United States.
He said that Bogdan-Martin has sufficient capability and experience to serve as secretary general.

"She is very inclusive as she will hear every opinion and concern of the international community, including developing countries. I know that she will be eager to work with Indonesia, with the Minister (of Communications and Informatics) and his team, to conceive ways to make ITU a better and stronger organization," the ambassador remarked