India gets re-elected to International Maritime Organization for 2-year term
India has gotten re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for a two-year term. Germany secured the highest number of votes at 146 while India came a close second at 144 votes. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who addressed the IMO annual summit in London, stated that India would represent the developing world's interests at the IMO Council. Here's more about it.
What is IMO?
IMO was established in Geneva in 1948 and came into force in 1959. It is a UN special agency tasked with regulating shipping. It works through five committees who are assigned specific issue areas such as marine safety and environmental protection. IMO has successfully formulated at least 60 landmark international conventions concerning maritime safety, including the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea.
India at the IMO Council
India was one of the earliest countries to ratify the IMO convention and has been a member since 1959. It has consistently been elected to the IMO Council ever since its inception, except for a two-year hiatus in 1983-84. Its place in the council has enabled India to voice its concerns in crucial matters concerning the global shipping industry and IMO budget.
India's bid for re-election to the IMO Council
India contested from 'Category-B' which includes developing countries. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who was in London to attend the annual IMO summit to gather support for New Delhi, stated that if elected, India would represent "developing countries and those with the largest interests in international sea-borne trade." He also assured IMO of India's commitment to "the sustained growth of the global maritime community"
IMO Council membership: Who else made the cut?
Along with Germany and India, the countries which also won a 2-year ticket to the IMO council include: Australia (143 votes), France (140 votes), Canada (138 votes), Spain (137 votes), Brazil (131 votes), Sweden (129 votes), The Netherlands (124 votes) and the UAE (115 votes).
