Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia is moving closer to becoming a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a step that would make it the first Southeast Asian nation to join the influential economic organization.
The development follows a series of meetings by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto in Paris, where he engage in discussions with several ambassadors and representatives from OECD member states.
The meeting included ambassadors from Australia and Japan, as well as deputy ambassadors from Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. These countries have pledged their commitment to supporting Indonesia’s accession process to OECD.
Airlangga expressed appreciation for the backing from Indonesia’s international partners, highlighting the progress made since accession talks began in February 2024 and the ongoing self-assessment phase.
“Indonesia is proud to be the first ASEAN country to become an OECD accession candidate,” Airlangga said in a written statement on Wednesday (March 5, 2025).
He emphasized that Indonesia’s current priority is to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and investment to create jobs and gradually achieve its target of 8% economic growth.
Strategic Push for Indonesia’s OECD Accession
Indonesia sees OECD membership as a crucial step toward its Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. According to Airlangga, the structural transformation required for accession would expand access to global markets, capital, skills, and technology.
The country aims to sustain annual GDP growth of 6-8% over the next two decades to break free from the middle-income trap.
The Indonesian government targets completing the OECD accession process within three to four years. To ensure alignment with national priorities, the OECD accession roadmap has been incorporated into Indonesia’s 2025-2045 Long-Term National Development Plan (RPJPN) and 2025-2029 Medium-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN).
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Indonesia plans to submit its Initial Memorandum by June 2025, paving the way for an Accession Roadmap Agreement at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in June 2025. The country is also accelerating its alignment with OECD instruments and standards.
To support the accession process, Indonesia’s National OECD Task Force Secretariat has identified key capacity-building needs, outlined a comprehensive implementation strategy, and explored ways to strengthen partnerships with various stakeholders.
During the discussions, Airlangga invited OECD member states to collaborate in Indonesia’s accession process, reinforcing the government’s commitment to economic transformation and its ambition to become a developed nation through accelerated OECD membership.
(Raidi/Agung)
