We will make the most of these three days by conducting a number of meetings with IMO member countries.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi is in London, England, with an Indonesian delegation to drum up support and votes from other countries ahead of the election of the members to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) council.

The election will take place on December 1, 2023.

"We will make the most of these three days by conducting a number of meetings with IMO member countries," Sumadi informed in a statement released on Monday.

He said Indonesia's renomination to the IMO council is part of an effort to increase its presence and active role in the international arena and to strengthen the vision of making Indonesia a world maritime axis.

This is also in line with the Indonesian Government's policy direction and strategy outlined in the 2020–2024 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), he added.

From this Monday to Wednesday, the minister will participate in a number of activities in London, including diplomatic receptions, and hold bilateral meetings with a number of countries to push Indonesia's renomination as a member of the IMO Category C council for the 2024–2025 period.

He informed that Indonesia will need to obtain a minimum of 89 votes from IMO member countries, whose number totals 175, to become a member of the IMO council. In the 2022–2023 election, Indonesia managed to obtain 127 votes.

"With our commitment to developing a sustainable global maritime sector, we are sure that other countries will support and vote for Indonesia," he said.

The diplomatic reception held by Indonesia will take place on November 28 with the involvement of delegations from a number of ministries/institutions as well as related stakeholders who are part of Indonesia's winning lobby team.

The ministries/institutions include the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Cabinet Secretariat, Indonesian Embassy in London, Indonesian Navy Hydrography and Oceanography Center, state-run port operator Pelindo, Indonesian Classification Bureau (BKI), Pertamina International Shipping, and Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA).

"I ask all assigned delegates to actively participate in efforts to gather support and get votes from other countries," Sumadi said.

On Monday, he held several meetings, including with the secretary-general of IMO, Kitack Lim.

During the meeting, he expressed his appreciation and gratitude for IMO's contribution under Lim's leadership. He also sought Lim's support for Indonesia's re-nomination to the IMO council.

"Under Lim's leadership, IMO has provided a lot of support and assistance to Indonesia to continue increasing its role at IMO," the minister said.

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Translator: Adimas Raditya F P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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