The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has filed its application to be elected to the Executive Council of the IMO for the upcoming 2018-19 biennium, as a Category B member applying to countries with major interests in international maritime trade.
A UAE delegation led by Dr. Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority (FTA), held a meeting with IMO secretary Kitack Lim on the sidelines of recent meetings of the International Maritime Organization to present the country’s case for election.
Al Nuaimi pointed to the local maritime sector’s steady growth as a result of the UAE Government’s “relentless improvement efforts,” including its array of world-class ports, major shipping players and influential conferences and events. These have placed it “among the ranks of the most prominent international maritime capitals,” he said.
The UAE has been an active member of the IMO since since 1980, he added, and “constantly develops and implements maritime transport regulations as part of its commitment to help improve the international maritime system”.
In response the IMO secretary-general praised the unique features of the maritime sector in the UAE and the important role it plays in supporting the global maritime sector.
Members of IMO Executive Committee are due to be elected at the 30th Ordinary General Assembly meeting to be held between 24 November and 5 December.
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