The United Nations has 15 specialized agencies that carry out various functions,... but only
one of them is based in the UK.
That's the International Maritime Organization.
The IMO coordinates standards and practices in the shipping industry...
between almost every country in the world.
Our Kwon Jang-ho sat down with the head of the IMO in London.
The head of the UN's International Maritime Organization is Secretary-General Lim Ki-tack.
He's the first Korean national to take up the position since the organization was founded
in 1948.
"You've been at your position for 10 months now, you're the very first Korean Secretary-General
of the IMO, has it been everything you expected?
What do you feel has been your biggest achievement so far?"
"It has been very challenging to me.
But thanks to the good cooperation and collaboration from the member states and industry, and collaboration
with all relevant stakeholders I have been very lucky."
"The IMO covers a very wide number of aspects, as you said environment to safety regulations.
But what are the most immediate concerns right now?"
"We are handling many different kinds of activities, but as you know following the Paris agreement
regarding the climate change issues… also we have to introduce some very important climate
change issues to international shipping.
So this year we in the MEPC meeting in April this year, we agreed to some data collecting
system which is calculating the total amount of CO2 emission from individual ships.
So we are going to analyze those data and finally we are going to produce some certain
necessary major how to remit or reduce CO2 emissions from ships."
80-percent of global trade is transported by shipping and therefore one of the key industries
in the world.
And with more developing countries getting involved, the IMO aims at providing the required
guidelines,... for these nations to meet safety and environmental standards to effectively
be involved in the international shipping industry.
"IMO has been putting a lot of energy, effort in enhancing capacity building for developing
countries and small island countries.
So since I took office this year, there has been a lot of discussion on how to improve
capacity building program.
And how to secure more budget.
So this big one still underway.
But based on good communication and dialogue and understanding I believe we will have more
bigger programs from now on in the future."
"Having the IMO so big, covering the entire world, there must come some difficulties trying
to get nations to agree to comply, things must take a long time.
Can it be frustrating?
Is it difficult sometimes?"
"Since I started by job in January, I was putting a lot of effort to narrowing the viewpoint
between two sides, developed side and developing side.
But luckily based on good communication and dialogue, there have be a lot of advancements
development, in terms of mutual understanding.
So I really appreciate all member states for the positive assistance and collaborate so
far."
Secretary-General Lim recently met with Korean President Park Geun-hye in September, where
a deal was signed for Korea to have further involvement in the IMO and global shipping
affairs.
"It was a very fruitful, very fruitful, I'm very happy on behalf of the IMO.
First of all we had some agreement between the IMO and the government of the Republic
of Korea and based on that agreement the Republic of Korea is going to make a donation, the
sum of 2 million U.S. dollars every year to the IMO.
It gives us a very good indication in terms of securing the budget for the capacity building
technical operation program for developing countries."
"And finally it's still early days, but what are you aims for your time in office?
How would you like for your time as Secretary-General to be remembered?"
"I would mention the most important priority of my job would be in our communication, collaboration
between the developed country and developing countries.
In short, I want to set up certain better or more resilient bridge between developed
side and developing side.
So I would hope to be called later, thought of as the bridge Secretary-General in the
future."
"Well we wish you all the best on that mission, and thank you for your time Secretary General."