OECD chief says Indonesia's membership application 'exciting'
Baku, January 12, AZERTAC
Indonesia's application to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an "exciting development" for the group as the Southeast Asian country could bring the voice of emerging economies, Nikkei Asia reports citing OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has been eager to join the international organization as it aims to become a developed nation by 2045, courting support from existing member countries.
In an interview with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on Thursday, the OECD Secretary-General confirmed that the group had received a formal request from Indonesia.
"We are very pleased to receive a formal request to start accession discussions from Indonesia," he said, adding that the request is being considered by an OECD council, which has representation from all member states.
An international organization tasked with shaping policies aimed at improving economic well-being, OECD has a set of criteria that countries must meet if they want to join, such as the ability to implement policies. As such, its 38 members are mostly developed nations. Cormann did not provide details on the progress of Indonesia's application.
However, he said Indonesia can contribute to the group, which has only two Asian members -- Japan and South Korea -- noting that the country already has a "very significant" presence in the global economy.
"There is a lot that Indonesia can contribute to the OECD as a voice of emerging market economies and also for developing economies around the world, and indeed, as the important voice of Southeast Asia," he said.
He added, "It's a historic request that we have received and in terms of the OECD's future capacity to help shape global agenda, to help find solutions to the evolving challenges of our time. I think it's a very exciting development."
Cormann also said Indonesia's efforts to join the group would have ripple effects on the region, prompting the development of other economies.
"Indonesia taking steps to systematically align with OECD standards across important economic and social policy areas, I believe, will have a very significant impact across the broader Southeast Asian region," he said.
He added that Thailand is engaged in active discussion regarding possible accession to the OECD and that other nations, such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore, have also been closely cooperating with the group.
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