Wista International receives IMO consultative status
The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) governing body, the IMO Council, approved the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (Wista International) application for consultative status on July 5, 2018.
Wista Sri Lanka is a member of Wista International which is a global organisation connecting female executives and decision makers in the maritime field around the world.
The consultative status gives Wista the opportunity to promote diversity, inclusion and women’s empowerment both shoreside and shipboard, which are in line with its objectives.
Wista’s efforts support the overarching principles in IMO’S Strategic Plan, particularly the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Wista International has been a voice for female executives in the maritime industry since 1974. Today, it has over 3,000 members worldwide representing 44 countries and have participated in a number of global initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in the shipping industry. The association partners with organisations around the world including the European Commission, International Chamber of Shipping, Inter Manager, INTERTANKO, World Maritime University, ISWAN, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, and Youngship to increase women’s participation in the maritime industry in coordination with the UN’S sustainable Development Goal 5, Achieve Gender Equality and Empowerment for all Women and Girls. Wista Sri Lanka currently lead by President Rukshila Antony De Saram consists of 135 members representing a wide spectrum of companies in the shipping, logistics and transportation sectors in Sri Lanka. Wista Sri Lanka has been successful in breaking down gender barriers within the shipping and logistics industry over four short years since its inception in Sri Lanka and encouraging more women to join this growing industry. Wista’s agenda bodes well for the Sri Lankan Government’s initiative to position the island nation as the logistics hub for the Asian region.