Indonesia is currently in the process of accession to become a member of the developed country alliance, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the membership process, Indonesia is assisted by Japan, which is one of two Asian countries in the OECD.
The Indonesian government has set a final target to submit an initial memorandum document in Indonesia’s accession process to the OECD. The government is targeting the document to be submitted to the OCED Secretariat General in March 2025. As is known, the initial memorandum document contains a self-assessment or personal assessment of the government’s personal assessment of the alignment of Indonesian regulations, policies, and practices with relevant OECD instruments.
As is known, the government of the OECD National Team to prepare the document is in accordance with Presidential Decree Number 17 of 2024. This team is chaired directly by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. This team consists of 64 ministries/agencies/institutions, both government and non-government elements, the OECD National Team will partner with 26 OECD Committees with 243 OECD instruments and standards that Indonesia must follow.
Coordinating Minister Airlangga also said that the launch of the OECD Accession Portal and INA OECD was a real step to accelerate reforms in various sectors, including the economy, digitalization, and governance. At the launch of the portal, Airlangga claimed that Indonesia was the first country to use a digital system in the OECD accession process as a commitment to strengthening international cooperation and accelerating reforms in various sectors in accordance with OECD standards and recommendations.
On the other hand, the Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masaki Yasushi, explained that Japan through the Japan-OECD ASEAN Partnership Program (JOAPP) allocated funds of 8 million euros over the next three years.
“This program intends to implement projects such as sending OECD experts, research and problem analysis, and training focused on areas such as private investment, connectivity, sustainability and digital,” Yasushi said at the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention technical meeting in Jakarta, Monday (10/2/2025).
Furthermore, Yasushi explained that the 8 million euro fund is the total support package for all participating ASEAN member countries.
“This is a total support package for all participating ASEAN member countries. In it there is Indonesia which is in the process and then Thailand and Vietnam in the future,” said Yasushi.
Until now, no Southeast Asian or ASEAN country has joined the OECD. As for the Asian countries that have joined so far, only 2, namely Japan and South Korea. Yasushi also explained that Japan believes that promoting OECD standards throughout Southeast Asia will attract private investment and lead to sustainable economic growth. “Not only in Indonesia, but investment throughout the region,” he said.
February 5, 2025, CNBC Indonesia
(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20250205191548-4-608315/selangkah-lagi-masuk-oecd-ri-akan-masukan-dokumen-maret-2025)
(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20250210120035-4-609365/jepang-kucurkan-dana-8-juta-euro-bantu-negara-asean-gabung-oecd)