OECD to strengthen ties with India, other key partners

Looking to transform itself into a more inclusive global policy forum, think tank OECD will strengthen relations with India and other key partners, including by way of possible membership.
Paris-headquartered, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a grouping of 34 countries, most of which are rich countries. The members include the US, France, Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.
The OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, which concluded on Thursday, expressed full support for the think tank's global relations strategy, as an essential element to increase its impact and relevance.
OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria is steering the strategy to "transform the organisation into a more inclusive, global policy network and a prime forum for evidence-based policy exchange and global standard setting".

India is not a member of OECD.
The meeting has supported "strengthening relations with the OECD's Key Partners -- Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa", according to a statement issued by OECD.

"Gurria, who has been renewed as head of the OECD until 2021, has confirmed the objective of strengthening links with key emerging economies, including through their possible membership, as one of the priorities of the organisation," the statement issued on Thursday said.
Among others, OECD is leading the way in setting standards for global automatic exchange of tax information that would help countries deal with illicit fund flows.

Gurria said expanding outreach and cooperation with emerging economies worldwide is central to the OECD mission.
"By deepening our partnerships, we are enriching the global policy dialogue, notably as concerns our work for the G-20, and reinforcing our efforts to develop better policies for better lives of people worldwide," he noted.
Participants at the ministerial meeting welcomed the progress made by Colombia and Latvia in their ongoing accession processes. Besides, accession discussions have started with Costa Rica and Lithuania, the statement said.