Foreign Minister Retno Asks Dutch Support For Indonesian Membership In OECD

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia has asked the Netherlands for support in its plans for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Quoting Antara, the request was made by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during a bilateral meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, USA.

Retno and Slot hope that Indonesia's membership in the OECD can contribute to strengthening joint efforts in overcoming global challenges.

At a meeting with the OECD some time ago, 38 member countries of the organization welcomed and supported Indonesia's desire to join.

However, according to Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia needs regulatory harmonization with the 200 standards set by the OECD.

Considering the process is long and not easy, it is estimated that Indonesia will only be able to access OECD membership in the next 4-5 years.

The OECD is an intergovernmental organization whose mission is to create a strong, clean, and just global economy.

By becoming a member of the OECD, Indonesia, among other things, is expected to escape the trap of middle-income countries, as South Korea did.

Indonesia also hopes to improve the function of multilateral investment and trade by opening access to markets in 38 OECD member countries, which use best practices with the same standards.

Meanwhile for the OECD, joining Indonesia will provide a wider global reach, especially in the Southeast Asia region.

With a projection to be among the world's top five economies in 2045, Indonesia is a strategic partner in strengthening OECD standards and best practices.

Apart from asking for support from the Netherlands, Foreign Minister Retno is said to also hope for support from the UK, Germany, Japan, Palau, Sweden, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Senegal, Denmark, Austria and Bangladesh for Indonesia's membership in the OECD.

Support is also expected from the Philippines, Timor Leste, Laos, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malaysia, Sweden, Hungary, Estonia and Greece.