ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) fully supports Indonesia’s steps to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economic bloc.
According to the Chairman of BKSAP DPR Indonesia, Mardani Ali Sera, these two blocks are opportunities for Indonesia so they are not to be contested.
“If both are opportunities for us, don’t dispute it. We will try to apply for both,” said Mardani at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, November 28 2024.
Ali stated that Indonesia’s foreign diplomacy basically started from national interest.
“We support the government, the OECD must go ahead, BRICS must too,” he said.
However, he admitted that at first he was surprised when the government stated that it wanted to join as a member of BRICS in the middle of Indonesia’s accession process to become a full member of the OECD.
“Regarding BRICS, to be honest, we were surprised because it was out of nowhere, but we think positively about everything that President Prabowo is doing in order to achieve the 8 percent economic growth target. Actually, our OECD proposal is much more solid, but it is more difficult to get into. At the OECD, we there’s just one step left in the process,” he said.
Deputy Chairman of BKSAP DPR Indonesia, Ravindra Airlangga also expressed support for Indonesia’s membership of the two economic blocks.
“Regarding BRICS, we support it and we also continue to fulfill the requirements to join the OECD,” said Ravindra on the same occasion.
He said that BKSAP had also met with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Indonesia Denis Chaibi some time ago, during which he also discussed Indonesia’s accession process to join the OECD.
“To help with this accession process, it will also be held on February 17 2025, we will have a meeting with European ambassadors and parliament to discuss what synchronization steps will be taken to speed up this accession process,” he said.
Previously, OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann stated that international support for Indonesia’s accession to become a full member of the OECD was getting stronger, including support from the United States and the United Kingdom.
“There is very strong support for Indonesia’s accession from all OECD members. Even last week, President Biden and the British Prime Minister firmly expressed their support in bilateral talks with President Prabowo,” Cormann said in his statement after meeting President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace complex. , Jakarta, Thursday.
He explained that Indonesia’s current involvement in the accession process to become an OECD member is also strongly supported by all 38 member countries of the organization.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has officially expressed its interest in joining BRICS at the BRICS Plus Summit in Kazan, Russia, 23-24 October.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono stated that BRICS priorities are in line with the Indonesian government’s work programs, including food and energy security, eradicating poverty and promoting natural resources. (AT Network)
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