Earlier this year, Indonesia’s President Mr Joko Widodo addressed the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in London at the invitation of IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. The visit was part of Mr Lim’s initiative to raise awareness of the organisation within the broader audience of global leadership.

Delegates from 107 Member States and 53 NGOs heard Mr Widodo outline Indonesia’s strategy for national maritime development and confirm his support for the organisation. He stated: “Indonesia believes the future of global prosperity depends on how we manage the sea. And that future can be secured by taking care of the sea as our common heritage. We can do this through international cooperation, including at the IMO.”