SECRETARY GENERAL: OECD WELCOMES INDONESIA TO JOIN

Paris, Nov 27 (ANTARA) - The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) welcomed Indonesia and other developing countries which are non-members of OECD to join the organization, OECD's Secretary General, Angel Gurria, said here Friday.

OECD has invited Indonesia and other non-OECD members to a number of activities held by the organization to get information and insights on various aspects especially those on economic developments in Indonesia, the secretary general said.

Indonesia was also involved in several global forums recently held by the Paris-based OECD, Gurria said, adding that on the occasion, he met an Indonesian delegation to share ideas and experience on economic development.

Gurria made the remark at a meeting with several journalists from developing countries which are non-OECD members.The journalists were also expected to provide inputs and share experience especially on economic developments in their respective countries.

According to Gurria, he had met with the Indonesian delegation which was led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was on the occasion of the global forum accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers including Sri Mulyani who was then Acting Coordinating Minister for Economy and Mari Elka Pangestu who was Trade Minister.

He said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at that time had briefed him on aspects relating to government regulations on economic development in the archipelagic country of more than 220 million people.

In addition, he said, Sri Mulyani, Mari Elka Pangestu, and Boediono who was then Governor of Bank Indonesia (the central bank), were his interlocutor partners in the discussions on different issues pertaining to economic development in Indonesia.

He said OECD got valuable insights and information from every OECD activity which was participated in by the Indonesian delegation, and the inputs were made important reference in making recommendations which were incorporated in the organization's annual report.

The journalists from the developing countries were in Paris from 22 to 28 November 2009, on the framework of OECD's Fellowship Program in the hope the organization could be known better by peoples in the world especially those in developing countries.

The visiting journalists include those from South Africa, China, Indonesia, India and Brazil, who perceived that OECD was an organization which only consists of rich countries like the US, Britain, Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan, France and Denmark.

However, OECD's Visual Communications and Brand Manager John Tarver who earlier met the journalists disagreed on the perception as OECD with 30 members which are mostly developed countries also has members which are developing countries like Mexico, Turkey and Korea.

According to Tarver, OECD likewise involves developing countries in different activities like dialogs and seminars which discuss various issues related to global, regional and national economic developments like environment, education, unemployment, health, transportation and communications,
On the occasion, Tarver also hoped the journalists could help OECD improve the image of the organization which was so far perceived as an elite group which only consists of developed countries.
OECD has the mission to encourage governments both from developed and developing countries in the world to strengthen their commitments on democracy and market economy focusing on sustainable economic growth, boost employment, increase living standard, maintain financial stability, help developing countries in the respective economic developments and give contributions to the world trade growth.