VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia and Argentina are both in line for accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Both countries have agreed to optimise the benefits of membership of the organisation. This was conveyed by Sulaiman Syarif, Indonesian Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to Voice of Indonesia in a Ranah Diplomasi programme on Tuesday (4/6/2024). ‘We have agreed with the Argentine Foreign Minister that we will share our experiences so that we, Indonesia and Argentina, can optimally utilise our membership in the OECD,’ said Sulaiman Syarif.

The commitment is in line with President Javier Milei's policy that makes partnership with ASEAN countries one of his priorities. ‘Under President Milei, who just took his oath in December, President Milei now sees policy towards ASEAN as one of his priorities. So this is one of the good opportunities,’ Ambassador Sulaiman continued.

As is known, Indonesia and Argentina obtained a road map towards OECD membership at the 2024 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) on 2-3 May 2024 in Paris, France. ‘Regarding the OECD, of course we can share experiences, it is said that Indonesia and Argentina both received the Accession Road Map in Paris last month, so we share how it is related to for example omnibus law, here they also have made the same regulation, created an omnibus law which among others is to gain investment, then also related to simplification of procedures for investment which I think we also do,’ said the Ambassador who began serving in Buenos Aires on 25 October 2023.

Indonesia and Argentina's membership in the OECD ecosystem is expected to be a way to increase investment and trade volume between the two countries. "So related to the OECD, first of course this is an opportunity for us to share information, then secondly it will encourage the entry of investment, and our task here is also interesting, it is time to encourage outbound investment and in-bound investment. Then of course in terms of trade, with the new policy of President Milei who wants to engage more, wants to be closer with ASEAN, especially Indonesia. Now we are of course talking about trade. Trade relations will be more open and tariffs may be reduced, and we are working on this between Indonesia-Uruguay-Paraguay there is an Indonesia-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement,’ Ambassador Sulaiman Syarif concluded to Voice of Indonesia.