FINLAND NOMINATES CANDIDATE FOR IMO SECRETARY GEENRAL
The Finnish government has nominated Ms Minna Kivimäki as candidate for the position of Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The term of the present Secretary General, Mr. Kitack Lim of the Republic of Korea, ends on 31 December 2023.
Ms Kivimäki is currently the Permanent Secretary of the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications. She has an extensive experience in maritime policy and strategies, having held several positions within the Ministry of Transport and the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU, notably steering the Finnish Presidency in 2019 as the Deputy Permanent Representative. In her candidacy statement, Ms Kivimäki proposes to ensure that the IMO remains the leading regulatory body in shipping and states her willingness to steer decarbonisation policies and to tackle other challenges such as cyber threats, changing trade patterns, future pandemics and other unforeseen disruptions.
Six other IMO Member States (Bangladesh, China, Dominica, Kenya, Panama and Türkiye) have nominated a candidate. The election will take place at IMO Headquarters in London on 18 July. Following the election, the decision of the Council will be submitted to the 33rd session of the IMO Assembly in late 2023, for approval. The elected Secretary-General will then take office on January 1st, 2024.