Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

C/MIN(2024)3/FINAL
Unclassified

English/French
3 May 2024

COUNCIL

Meeting of the Council at Ministerial Level, 2-3 May 2024

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL’S REPORT TO MINISTERS ON OECDGLOBAL RELATIONS

JT03543040
OFDE
This document is issued under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD anddoes not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Members.

This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory,
to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

2  C/MIN(2024)3/FINALTABLE OF CONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 3
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OECD GLOBAL RELATIONS PRIORITIES .................. 5
I. GLOBAL RELATIONS IN A CHANGING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT ....................................................... 5
II. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OECD GLOBAL RELATIONS IN 2023-2024 ........................................ 6
A. Increased global reach and impact of OECD work and standards through the Organisation’s active
engagement with the G20, G7, APEC and the UN

7

B. Growing country-specific engagement with the Organisation’s Key Partners and through dedicatedCountry Programmes

8

C. Strong regional influence and impact with a focus on sustainable development

11

C.1. The OECD’s reach and impact in regions around the world...................................................................... 11
An enhanced focus on the Indo-Pacific and growing momentum for the Southeast Asia Regional
Programme ................................................................................................................................................ 11
A new and strategic OECD-Africa Partnership on an equal footing......................................................... 11
Strengthened engagement with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) amid rising regional
instability .................................................................................................................................................. 12
Support to the Eurasia region against the backdrop of Russia’s continuing war of aggression
against Ukraine ......................................................................................................................................... 12
A renewed focus on environmentally sustainable growth in Latin America and the Caribbean(LAC) ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Policy Impact in South East Europe (SEE) at a challenging time for the region ...................................... 13
C.2. Strengthened focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ......................................................... 13
III. CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD .............................................................................................. 16
ANNEX A: DELIVERING ON OECD GLOBAL RELATIONS TOOLS IN 2023-2024 .................................. 17
Key Partners

17

Regional and country-specific approaches

19

Co-operation with other international organisations and fora

24

ANNEX B: ADHERENCE TO OECD LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND PARTICIPATION IN OECD
BODIES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Adherences

27

Partnerships

28

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe OECD, as a multi-disciplinary and evidence-based Organisation, with substantial convening power tofacilitate policy dialogue and multilateral co-operation between countries at all stages of development, iswell placed to address global issues in a way that benefits Members and non-Members. The lingeringrepercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against
Ukraine and the evolving conflicts in the Middle East present a challenging context for the OECD’s
external relations. Yet, more international co-operation will be needed to achieve common goals –including the green and digital transitions, food and energy security, free and fair trade, sustainable andinclusive economic growth, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Over the past year, the OECD has further increased its global relations efforts to serve as a bridge between
advanced, emerging and developing economies, and continued responding to the shared policy challengesof our time, including through:•Strategic OECD Enlargement: Progress in the accession processes of Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Peru and Romania, Argentina’s confirmation to move ahead with accession as well as the openingof accession discussions with Indonesia are pivotal for the dissemination of OECD standards andbest practices and will help further consolidate the OECD’s regional and global influence. After adecade of increasing co-operation, both Indonesia and Thailand requested accession to the OECD
with a view to continue their structural transformation towards an advanced economy status.

•

Strong focus on the Indo-Pacific: Outreach to the Indo-Pacific region has remained a strategic
priority of the OECD, underscored by the Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific approved byCouncil at the 2023 Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM). The Southeast Asia Regional
Programme (SEARP), which will celebrate its 10th Anniversary at the 2024 MCM, has facilitateda growing convergence of the region with OECD standards and best practices, and effectively
supported Southeast Asian countries in their post-pandemic economic recovery efforts. Cooperation with Viet Nam and Singapore has deepened, and a second phase of the Country
Programme with Thailand has been launched. The OECD’s 2023 Southeast Asia Ministerial
Forum set out enabling conditions required for Southeast Asia to attract more sustainable andquality investment. In addition, the Organisation’s engagement with the region has beenstrengthened though regional co-operation with ASEAN and bilateral engagement with India,
including in the context of India’s 2023 G20 Presidency. Work with the People’s Republic ofChina (China) continued in areas of common interest, such as climate change and taxation.

•

Enhanced engagement with Africa: The OECD has further strengthened its engagement with
Africa through the OECD-Africa Partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
African Union and the launch of the Africa Virtual Investment Platform to help boost private
investment and enhance the mobilisation of domestic resources. The OECD-Africa Partnershipprioritises the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, strengthens links
with the African Regional Economic Communities and facilitates the implementation of reforms
at the national level, building on OECD expertise and institutional engagement with African
stakeholders. Ongoing co-operation activities will be further enhanced in areas including trade andinvestment, regional integration, infrastructure, taxation, mineral supply chains, sustainable
development, statistics, skills and education. OECD technical assistance programmes, in cooperation with the African Tax Administration Forum, reach over 20 000 officials each year andsupported more than 15 countries in Africa to implement the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion
and Profit Shifting (BEPS) and transfer pricing reforms. Ongoing Country Programmes with Egypt
and Morocco have delivered tangible policy impact for sustainable and inclusive economic growth,and a new Country Programme with Mauritius has been agreed by Council. Finally, the launch ofa Joint Work Programme with South Africa is another important step in the OECD’s engagementwith the continent, including in the run up to South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025.

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Unwavering commitment to Ukraine: The OECD has firmly upheld its commitment to Ukraine,
a prospective Member of the Organisation. The OECD-Ukraine Country Programme helped
advance Ukraine's public administration reform, fight against corruption, governance of stateowned enterprises and investment climate reforms. The OECD Office in Kyiv was operationalised
and an OECD Friends Group in the Parliament of Ukraine was created, which will ensure evenmore effective impact on the ground. The Organisation also contributed substantially to the‘Ukraine Plan’ developed by Ukrainian authorities in connection with the European Union’s
Ukraine Facility.

•

Policy dialogue and tailored solutions to key regional challenges: Regional Programmes
covering Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
and South East Europe (SEE) kept adapting to a challenging international context, focusing
increasingly on enabling economic resilience and sustainable development. The Eurasia
Competitiveness Programme promoted OECD standards and initiatives in Eastern Europe andCentral Asia, facilitated high-level policy dialogue through the OECD Eurasia Week, andstrengthened its engagement with the Republic of Moldova. The LAC Regional Programme held
its first Ministerial meeting on Environmental Sustainability in Costa Rica and launched an Action
Plan for Climate Resilience and Neutrality in the region. In the MENA region, the OECD helped
advance regional priorities on trade, investment, governance and women's empowerment. The SEE
Regional Programme increased its influence in the Western Balkans, focusing on economic
reforms and preparing the region’s economies for a green and digital future, thereby paving theway for further convergence with the European Union.

•

Strategic multilateral engagement through global fora and international organisations: The
OECD asserted its position as a trustworthy partner in the multilateral system through substantive
support for India’s 2023 G20 Presidency, Japan’s 2023 G7 Presidency and the United States’ 2023
APEC Host Year. This co-operation ensured that policy recommendations developed within these
global fora align with OECD standards and best practices. Despite growing challenges in themultilateral system, the OECD has effectively engaged with Brazil in support of its 2024 G20
Presidency, with Peru in its 2024 APEC Host Year, and contributed to United Nations (UN)agendas helping advance the SDGs, boost Financing for Development and accelerate climate
action at the COP28. A closer engagement with the UN system will remain focal going forward
and the OECD continues to support a strengthened WTO through its work on subsidies andanalysis on digital trade and trade and investment facilitation.

As the world undergoes considerable changes, evidence-based dialogue and co-operation remain essential
to address inter-linked challenges. Through its external engagement, the OECD has amplified its global
impact in policy areas such as tax, trade and investment, the green and digital transition, sustainability,
education, inclusion and gender equality. With 1 076 adherences by non-Members to OECD legal
instruments, OECD standards serve as a bridge – and not a barrier – to inclusive engagement with Partners
and help level the global playing field. Over 140 jurisdictions currently co-operate in BEPS and estimatesindicate that the proposed OECD global minimum tax is expected to result in annual global revenue gains
of around USD 220 billion, or 9% of global corporate income tax revenues. The OECD-UNDP Tax
Inspectors Without Borders supports countries’ tax audit capacity and has led to the additional collectionof over USD 2 billion across 60 jurisdictions. The Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches(IFCMA) has brought together countries accounting for around 85% of global emissions committed to act
on climate change. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) impacted the global
education policy debate with a record number of 91 economies taking part in the latest PISA assessment
and the 2023 Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) has uncovered gender-based discrimination insocial institutions across 179 countries. Through its interdisciplinarity and global reach, the OECD willcontinue working towards better policies for better lives around the world.

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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OECD GLOBAL RELATIONSPRIORITIES
I. GLOBAL RELATIONS IN A CHANGINGGLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
1.
The global economic and geopolitical landscape has become increasingly complex, polarised andunstable. In the wake of the pandemic, followed by the impacts of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression
against Ukraine as well as the evolving conflicts in the Middle East, geopolitical tensions remain a key
source of uncertainty. The current international environment presents a challenging context for the
implementation of the OECD’s global relations, underscoring the need for strategic, adaptable and resilient
approaches.
2.
As the global economy continues to confront inflationary pressures, high interest rates and sluggish
trade, global GDP growth, which rose by an estimated 3.1% in 2023, is projected to slow to 2.9% in 2024
and then increase to 3.0% in 2025.1 Growth remains unevenly distributed, with emerging markets generally
performing significantly better than advanced economies and other developing countries. Asian emerging
economies are expected to continue to account for the bulk of global growth in 2024-25, as has been thecase in previous years.
3.
In 2024, the biggest election year in history, countries accounting for more than 50% of the world’s
population will send over 4 billion people to the polls. As the world keeps facing important challenges,
from food security to macro-economic stability, mis- and dis-information as well as climate change,
effective external relations and strategic partnerships with relevant countries and organisations havebecome an essential condition for the OECD’s enduring relevance and impact.
4.
In this policy environment, the OECD with its broad policy expertise, evidence-based approachand convening power delivers solutions to global issues in a way that benefits both Members and Partners
at all stages of development. It remains equally important for the Organisation to collaborate even closer
with other international and regional organisations, including the United Nations system, to support
collective policy action and synergies on new and emerging issues, while mitigating the risks of duplicationand competing international standards.
5.
Over the last year, the Organisation continued intensifying its engagement with its Partners atnational, regional and global levels, further consolidating its position as a trusted and inclusive bridgebuilder. According to the 2023 OECD Stakeholder Survey based on 3,300 respondents from about 150
countries, the OECD is perceived as the most relevant of all international organisations listed in the survey,
with 93% of policy makers and 92% of stakeholders who engage with the OECD assessing it as relevant.
The OECD is currently also preparing a 2024 Stakeholder Survey to specifically gain a deeper
understanding of stakeholders in non-Member countries.
6.
With its unique multi-disciplinary capabilities, the OECD has continued over the last year toaddress a growing demand for knowledge sharing and evidence-based policy advice, helping countries
address structural economic challenges and strengthen their resilience to international shocks. Despite thefragmentation risks facing the multilateral system, achieving global common goals such as the green anddigital transitions, food and energy security as well as the implementation of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) fundamentally relies on international co-operation between OECD Members and Partners.
Enhanced multilateral co-operation is also key to reviving global trade in an interconnected world, where
open markets remain a paramount source of long-term prosperity for all.

1

OECD Economic Outlook, Interim Report February 2024.

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II. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OECD GLOBAL RELATIONS IN 2023-2024
7.
While the OECD does not seek to become universal through the size of its membership, theOrganisation intends to achieve global impact, in line with the Convention on the OECD. This enhances
its relevance and ability to support countries around the world in responding to major economic, social andenvironmental policy challenges.
8.
Through the ongoing OECD accession processes with Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru andRomania, the Organisation keeps disseminating its standards. The path towards OECD membership
continues to be a transformative process and a catalyst for reform in light of the candidates’ consistentefforts to align with OECD values, standards and best practices, providing a powerful leverage for the
adoption of major policy measures across a broad policy spectrum.2 On 11 December 2023, President Milei
confirmed Argentina's adherence to the OECD’s 60th Anniversary Vision Statement and the 2021 MCM
Statement as well as Argentina’s commitment to move ahead with OECD accession discussions as soon
as possible. Accordingly, Argentina’s Accession Roadmap setting out the terms, conditions and process
for accession was adopted by Council on 26 March 2024 [C/MIN(2024)6].
9.
In line with the Organisation’s strategic priority to expand its Membership in Southeast Asia, amilestone was reached in July 2023, with a formal request from Indonesia to start the accession process,followed by the historic decision of the Council on 20 February 2024 to open accession discussions withIndonesia and the adoption of the Accession Roadmap on 29 March 2024 [C/MIN(2024)7]. The OECD
accession process will provide Indonesia with a leverage to continue its structural transformation andadvance on its path to achieve advanced economy status by 2045.
10.
Thailand also requested OECD accession in February 2024 with the objective to further converge
towards OECD standards and best practices, further enhancing the OECD’s presence in the region.
Thailand’s request is currently under consideration by the Council.
11.
Beyond its positive impact on the domestic reform agendas of individual candidate countries,
OECD accession also has consequences at the regional and global levels through accession countries’
active involvement in the Organisation’s Regional Programmes. This helps disseminate OECD standards
and best practices throughout entire regions. Accordingly, this strategic enlargement is also of reciprocal
value for the Organisation.
12.
The OECD’s regional work has continued to adapt to key international challenges, notably throughfurther focusing on economic resilience and sustainable development in the aftermath of COVID-19 andthe ongoing war in Ukraine. The OECD has also enhanced its engagement with partner countries on
major issues of international concern, including the green and digital transition as well as infrastructureand global value chains.
13.
Overall, the key achievements of the OECD global relations in 2023-2024 outlined in this section
have resulted in:i)Continued global reach and impact of OECD work and standards through theOrganisation’s active engagement with the G20, G7, APEC and the UN;ii)

Growing country-specific engagement with the Organisation’s Key Partners and throughdedicated Country Programmes;2

Covering policy areas such as: investment, anti-bribery, corporate governance, financial markets, insurance and private pensions, competition,
taxation, environment, chemicals management, public governance, regulatory policy, regional development, statistics, economic anddevelopment review, education, employment, labour and social affairs, health, trade, agriculture, science and technology, digital economy andconsumer policy.

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iii)Strong regional influence and impact with a focus on sustainable development
including:•An enhanced focus on the Indo-Pacific and growing momentum for the Southeast
Asia Regional Programme•

A new and strategic OECD-Africa Partnership•

Strengthened engagement with the Middle East and North Africa amid risingregional instability•

Support to Ukraine and the Eurasia region against the backdrop of Russia’scontinuing war of aggression against Ukraine•

A renewed focus on environmentally sustainable growth in Latin America andthe Caribbean•

Enhanced support to South East Europe’s convergence with OECD standards andbest practices and the EU at a challenging time for the region

A. Increased global reach and impact of OECD work and standards through the Organisation’s active
engagement with the G20, G7, APEC and the UN
14.
As a trusted strategic partner to successive G20 Presidencies, the OECD continued to leverage its
evidence base, analysis, data, standards and policy recommendations to support India’s 2023 Presidency
and the G20 agenda. The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration endorsed the revised G20/OECD Principles ofCorporate Governance [OECD/LEGAL/0413]; invited the OECD to report progress on the implementationof the G20 Brisbane Gender Target with the International Labour Organization (ILO); and reiterated
Leaders’ commitment to implement the Two-Pillar Solution to Address the Tax Challenges Arising fromthe Digitalisation of the Economy. The OECD also worked closely with India’s 2023 G20 Presidency toaccelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda, delivering a stocktake of G20 actions to advance theSustainable Development Goals in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). In the G20 Finance Track, the OECD continued supporting G20 members to monitor downside
risks to the global economic outlook and to help identify the most effective policy responses. In thiscontext, the OECD contributed evidence-based policy analysis on diverse issues, including householdsupport during the energy crisis, financing for urban development, capital flows management and thebenefits of international tax rules for developing countries. Since December 2023, the OECD has been
engaging with Brazil’s 2024 G20 Presidency and is already liaising with South Africa on their 2025 G20
Presidency.
15.
The OECD supported Japan’s 2023 G7 Presidency with substantive deliverables across several
priority areas, including OECD reports on artificial intelligence, climate and the environment, economic
security, gender equality, tax, trade and urban development. The G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Communiquéhighlighted strong support for OECD initiatives and standards, including the Two-Pillar Solution to
Address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy, the OECD Global Forum on
Technology, the OECD Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data Held by Private Sector
Entities [OECD/LEGAL/0487] as well as the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches(IFCMA). The OECD is actively following up on key outcomes of Japan’s 2023 Presidency, notably the
G7 Hiroshima Process on Generative Artificial Intelligence and the G7 Vision for Operationalising Data
Free Flow with Trust.
16.
Through its substantive support to various APEC workstreams, the OECD has continued
advancing its strategic engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. Under the United States’s 2023 APEC
Host Year, the OECD contributed to several key deliverables acknowledged in the APEC Ministerial
Meeting Joint Ministers’ Statement, including the APEC Index to Measure the Regulatory Environment in
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Services Trade in all 21 APEC economies, as well as substantive work to align the APEC Principles on
the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcement of Anti-Bribery Laws with the OECD standards and policy
recommendations. Since December 2023, the OECD has been supporting Peru’s 2024 APEC Host Year.
17.
Support for the 2030 Agenda has continued to shape engagement with the UN family, building on
the OECD’s role as an Observer to both the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the General
Assembly. In 2023, the OECD contributed actively to the SDG follow-up and review process, including
by participating actively in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, with an emphasis
on sharing OECD evidence and policy tools on SDG implementation at the sub-national level. Moreover,
the Organisation has continued to be called on to support UN processes on development finance, spanning
official development assistance (ODA), tax, debt, investment and other flows. The OECD was visible atthe High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development and continued its collaboration with the UN Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the Agricultural Outlook, as well as its collaboration with the UN
regional economic commissions on regional economic outlooks, among others. In 2023, the OECD worked
with the UNDP to deliver 54 programmes through the innovative Tax Inspectors Without Borders
initiative, which provides tax audit assistance to developing countries. This partnership has helped toaccelerate the implementation of OECD tax standards globally, while delivering over USD 2 billion in
additional revenue for developing countries to date. The Organisation also contributed to the COP28 with
OECD data and policy insights on accelerating climate action. The OECD also continued to lead the Policy
Database of the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), including with the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Going forward, the OECD
presence in New York and Washington DC is expected to further strengthen the OECD’s co-operation
with international institutions.
B. Growing country-specific engagement with the Organisation’s Key Partners and through dedicatedCountry Programmes
18.
Over the last year, the Organisation has further advanced its country-specific engagement. Cooperation with the OECD’s Key Partners – Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa –progressed in a flexible manner, focusing on mutually beneficial priorities and shared interests. Beyond
Key Partners, country-specific work of the Organisation also progressed with Ukraine, a prospective
Member of the OECD, with which the Organisation has started a dedicated Country Programme, as wellas with Egypt, Morocco and Thailand that are currently engaged in OECD Country Programmes.
Moreover, a new Country Programme with Mauritius has been agreed by the Council. The External
Relations Committee (ERC) is also discussing how to have a meaningful sustainable engagement withcountries that have completed an OECD Country Programme.
19.
In 2023, the collaboration with Brazil achieved two milestones, underscoring the longstanding
partnership with the first Key Partner to embark on the OECD accession process: 45 years since its Brazil’s
first participation in an OECD committee3 and Brazil's 10th OECD Economic Survey. Whilst the accession
process has slowed pending an ongoing internal reflection on the administration’s approach to OECD
accession, the OECD has actively co-operated with Brazilian authorities on the incoming administration’sreform priorities. A seminar for 13 cross-party legislators from the Working Group on Tax Reform andOECD’s policy advice on indirect taxation led to Brazil’s new legislation on value added tax, a key piecein President Lula’s objective to simplify Brazil's tax system. The OECD also helped inform public
governance and innovation reforms within the public sector. Several Brazilian officials, including
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Management and Education and the Comptroller General, visited theOECD during this period and the Vice Minister of Finance exchanged valuable economic perspectives
with OECD Members.
3

Steel Committee.

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20.
The OECD and China continue to engage in a number of policy areas, particularly on
environment, climate and taxation. China joined the inaugural meeting of the IFCMA and has been actively
contributing to the initiative. China’s post-COVID re-opening allowed for the participation of theSecretary-General in the China Development Forum. These events also provided opportunities for bilateralmeetings with the Chinese Premier and other high-ranking officials of the Chinese administration. In
addition, engagement between the OECD and China also continued in the framework of the G20 and
APEC.
21.
The OECD’s overall engagement with India has progressed on issues including tax policy,
macroeconomic surveillance, corporate governance, development co-operation, science, technology andinnovation. The OECD’s G20 engagement has been a key driver of the Organisation’s relations with India
though regular contact between the OECD Sherpa and Indian counterparts in the Ministries of External
Affairs and Finance. Further nurturing the engagement with India in 2023, the Secretary-Generalparticipated in the G20 Leaders’ Summit and G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
Meetings and the Deputy Secretary-General represented the OECD at the Raisina Dialogue and the G20
Foreign Ministers Meeting in India. It is foreseen to strengthen OECD presence in New Delhi as part of
the Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework Implementation Plan.
22.
Indonesia requested accession to the OECD in July 2023 and on 20 February 2024 the OECD
Council made the decision to open accession discussions with Indonesia. The country expects the accession
process to provide a catalyst for reform to achieve Indonesia’s national development goals, including its
goal to become a high-income country by 2045. In light of Indonesia’s economic and geopoliticalimportance recognised by Members, accession to the OECD would bring reciprocal value to theOrganisation and its priority to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia. Indonesia’s collaboration with
the OECD through four Joint Work Programmes (JWP) and in the G20, as well as its participation inOECD committees and adherence to OECD legal instruments4, have helped bring the country closer to key
OECD standards and relevant committees. Furthermore, the co-operation with Indonesia in the ASEAN
context, including during its Chairmanship in 2023, has substantially facilitated the dissemination ofOECD standards in the region more broadly.
23.
South Africa and the OECD started a first Joint Work Programme on 16 July 2023 and its
implementation will represent a significant advancement in the already fruitful collaboration. This strategic
move, endorsed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, will support the implementation of necessary andambitious projects in strategic sectors for South Africa – in line with its National Development Plan – andincrease South Africa’s alignment with OECD standards and best practices. Ahead of South Africa's G20
Presidency in 2025, the OECD is actively engaging with the country to explore the scope of theOrganisation’s support. In August 2023, South Africa also became an Associate/member in the IFCMA.
South Africa expressed an initial interest for OECD support with priority- and outcome-setting as well as
capacity building and advancing legacy agendas.
24.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the OECD
supported Ukraine’s policy reforms in areas such as public administration, anti-corruption and investment
climate, through the OECD-Ukraine Country Programme [C/MIN(2023)3] launched at the 2023 MCM.
Thirteen reviews and capacity-building activities under the Programme have been launched and the OECD
also provided detailed input and feedback at Ukraine’s request on draft legislation on State-owned
Enterprises governance and on the ‘Ukraine Plan’ for the implementation of the European Union (EU)’splanned Ukraine Facility. The OECD-Ukraine Liaison Office has been operating in Kyiv since March
2023. It has proven effective in facilitating the implementation of the projects in Ukraine and plays a keyrole in the delivery of the Country Programme, promoting OECD standards and best practices andstrengthening relations with local stakeholders and international partners in Kyiv, while also enabling a
4

See Annex B.

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more fine-grained understanding of the Ukrainian context. Moreover, in early 2024 a Friends of OECD
group was created in the Ukrainian Parliament which will help further legislative reform impact on the
ground. The OECD is part of the Multi-Agency Donor Co-ordination Platform, co-chaired by Ukraine, theEU and the United States5. The aim of this Platform is to co-ordinate the work of the EU, the G7, theinternational financial institutions, the OECD6 and other invited parties, on the one hand, and Ukraine, on
the other, in order to provide effective support to Ukraine.
25.
The Egypt Country Programme was launched in 2023 and has brought the country closer to OECD
standards and best practices over the last year. The first-ever OECD Economic Survey of Egypt, launchedin February 2024 as part of the Country Programme, indicates that Egypt's economy, despite facing
significant challenges such as a notable current account deficit, high public debt and the impact of
successive global shocks, demonstrates resilience and adaptability. The Egypt Country Programme
contributed to the design of Egypt’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy, offered advice on economic
reforms and actively built capacity for the implementation of the SDGs. These results will be expanded
upon in the next two years of continued implementation. Progress towards the sustainable development
and green growth of Egypt is also expected to be underpinned by the forthcoming OECD Green Growth
Policy Review of Egypt.
26.
The Morocco Country Programme entered its second phase, focusing on increasing the country’s
investment attractiveness, strengthening policy coherence and inter-ministerial co-ordination in support ofMorocco’s New Development Model goals, and promoting territorial development. Morocco’s alignment
with the OECD Recommendation on Gender Equality in Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship[OECD/LEGAL/0398] has been an important focus in early 2024 and the first-ever Economic Survey of
Morocco, which is expected to be published in the second quarter of 2024, should shed light on structural
fragilities that Morocco needs to overcome.
27.
The four pillars of the Thailand Country Programme Phase 2 (TCP27) have been designed toadvance Thailand’s convergence with OECD standards and support Thailand’s domestic reforms. The
TCP2 emphasises alignment with OECD legal instruments such as the OECD Convention on Combating
Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions [OECD/LEGAL/0293] andrelated legal instruments, the Recommendation on Good Statistical Practice [OECD/LEGAL/0417], andthe Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises and related legal instruments[OECD/LEGAL/0144]. Building on its strong engagement with the Organisation through the two phasesof its Country Programme, Thailand has undertaken an internal preparation leading to its request to begin
an OECD accession process to further guide its long-term competitiveness and development path.

5

At its launch, the Multi-agency Donor Co-ordination Platform brought together Ukraine, the EU, G7 countries as well as international financial
institutions. In February 2024, the Steering Committee Members agreed by consensus to enlarge the participation to four new Members: Republicof Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and six new Observers: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain. In April 2024, they welcomed
three new observers: Belgium, Finland, Switzerland.
The OECD’s role in the Platform is to provide expertise, its previous experience in supporting post-war recovery, knowledge and analytical
capacities across a wide range of fields, benchmarks and internationally agreed standard to ensure the most effective support of the Platform to
Ukraine’s recovery and transformation.
6

7

TCP2 four pillars include (i) good governance; (ii) business climate and competitiveness; (iii) social inclusion and human capital development;and (iv) green recovery.

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C. Strong regional influence and impact with a focus on sustainable development
C.1. The OECD’s reach and impact in regions around the world
An enhanced focus on the Indo-Pacific and growing momentum for the Southeast Asia Regional Programme

28.
The OECD Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework [C/MIN(2023)19/FINAL], approved by the Council
at the 2023 MCM, reaffirmed the strategic importance of Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacificregion to the OECD. The Framework’s ambition to create conditions for attracting new OECD Members
from the region was fulfilled in July 2023 with Indonesia’s request to begin accession discussions, followedby Thailand’s request in February 2024. The Framework’s Implementation Plan contains practical
proposals for strengthening engagement with the region. Expected outputs include: expansion of existing
work in the areas of energy, infrastructure, connectivity, entrepreneurship, and trade and investment issues;
capacity building and seminars focused on key OECD standards; a potentially enhanced presence in Jakarta– for engagement with ASEAN – and in New Delhi; as well as a deeper engagement with the Pacific Island
Forum. They will be reinforced by the newly repurposed OECD Tokyo Centre.
29.
The Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP), which will celebrate its 10th Anniversary at
the 2024 MCM, continued to support Southeast Asia’s domestic economic priorities and encourage closeralignment with OECD bodies and standards across its work streams. Discussions on the content of theCountry Programme with Viet Nam, the SEARP co-chair, made good progress in 2023, with the
expectation that the Country Programme be launched in 2024. SEARP continued to support priority
ASEAN initiatives, which in 2023 were co-ordinated by Indonesia as ASEAN Chair. Highlights included
support for the development of an ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, a ministerial statement on foodsecurity and deeper services trade integration drawing on the OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index.
The SEARP held its third Ministerial Forum in 18 months on 26-27 October 2023 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam,on the theme ‘Sustainable and Quality Investment: New Momentum for OECD-Southeast Asia
Partnership’. The Ministerial Forum recognised OECD standards and best practices as an important sourceof policy coherence and integration to boost quality and sustainable investment.
A new and strategic OECD-Africa Partnership on an equal footing

30.
The launch of the OECD-Africa Partnership marks a significant step towards a comprehensive
co-operation that seeks to further disseminate OECD work in support of sustainable development and to
make its policy dialogue and standard-setting processes more inclusive. The strengthening of thecollaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) - including through the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2023 - consolidates and enhances the partnership
between the OECD and Africa, with positive implications for global governance and impact at continental,
regional and country levels. The Partnership will promote regional integration as the primary driver of
economic transformation. It supports the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement
and helps shape policy reforms building on OECD expertise. The continued work with African countries
to implement transparency standards through the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange ofInformation for Tax Purposes helped protect African corporate tax bases from avoidance and harmfulcompetition through the OECD two-pillar solution and to develop better revenue statistics.
31.
Existing OECD tools have been mobilised and new joint initiatives, such as the AUC-OECD
African Virtual Investment Platform (AfVIP), have been created to deliver on the four pillars of thePartnership: i) investment, trade and value chain resilience; ii) resource mobilisation; iii) human capitaland just green transition; iv) statistics and data development – all supported by strong political andinstitutional co-ordination to further enhance policy dialogue and co-operation. Several international
events such as the Italy-Africa Summit served as a platform to strengthen ties between the OECD and
African partners and to underscore OECD role as a partner on many of the most pressing challenges
African countries are facing. Moreover, progress has been made in advancing the OECD-MauritiusCountry Programme, which is expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2024.
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Strengthened engagement with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) amid rising regional instability

32.
Work with MENA continued advancing regional priorities in the context of global challenges,
including the multiple implications of the conflicts in the Middle East. Overall, through its different
workstreams, the OECD helped foster more inclusive growth, driving digital and green transitions in theregion and promoting sustainable development both at the national and regional levels.
33.
The MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development has continued
to address pressing challenges, including high unemployment rates, low levels of trust in government andgovernance gaps, limited investment and trade, and gender inequalities. The initiative remains a catalyst
for bringing policy makers together, fostering peer learning and exploring tangible solutions to surmountthese challenges. Noteworthy examples include the MENA-OECD Women’s Economic Empowerment
Forum, which champions inclusive digital transformation and investment initiatives that spur investment
flows both nationally and regionally. Moreover, through their participation in the Regional Programme,
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been enhancing its policy alignment with OECD standards and Saudi
Arabia has also been consistently stepping up its engagement with the OECD with a view to further alignwith OECD standards and good practices.
Support to the Eurasia region against the backdrop of Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine

34.
The OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme continues to promote OECD standards andprovide policy support to countries of the EU’s Eastern Partnership and Central Asia. The last year has
seen further engagement of countries from Central Asia and the South Caucasus with BEPS and the
IFCMA. In December 2023, the ministerial-level OECD Eurasia Week convened in-person in Paris for the
first time since the pandemic, providing a platform for policy dialogue between the region and the OECD,and featured the launch of the SME Policy Index: Eastern Partner Countries 2024, the Improving the Legal
Environment for Business and Investment in Central Asia and the joint OECD-ITF Realising the Potentialof the Middle Corridor reports. In 2023, the Eurasia Competitiveness Programme delivered webinars andonline capacity-building activities, training policy makers in the region in OECD standards and bestpractices in over 20 in-person workshops and other events around the region. The Programme represented
the OECD at the Astana International Forum and provided both content and organisational support to the
EU Central Asia Economic Forum. The Action Plan with the Republic of Moldova finalised in December
2023 has taken OECD co-operation with the country to a new level and is expected to result in meaningfulpolicy reforms in Moldova at a challenging time.
35.
The Organisation continues to adapt to the evolving situation related to the war, ensuring that
OECD work in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia remains aligned with both immediateneeds and longer-term structural reform priorities, and that it is designed to deliver greener, more inclusive
and more diversified growth. The Organisation actively supported the region’s private-sector digitalisationand helped design and implement better policies in the areas trade facilitation, connectivity and the legal
environment for business in Central Asia. Anti-corruption efforts in the region have been amplified throughthe active engagement of relevant policy makers in the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern
Europe and Central Asia. Overall, work with Eurasia helped advance OECD-wide priorities (connectivity,
digitalisation, gender, climate change mitigation and adaptation, anti-corruption, and tax), while continuing
to pay due attention to the countries’ specific structural reform challenges.
A renewed focus on environmentally sustainable growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)36.
In 2023, the LAC Regional Programme focused on its new priority of supporting environmental
sustainability in the region, while it continued delivering on its three existing priorities helping the LAC
region i) increase productivity, ii) enhance social inclusion, and iii) strengthen institutions and governance.
The Programme’s first Ministerial Summit on Environmental Sustainability was held in Costa Rica on 5
October 2023. It was the culmination of one year of regional consultations and data gathering, delivering
the first OECD LAC Environment at a Glance, a publication on key environmental priorities, and the

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Action Plan for Climate Resilience and Neutrality in LAC, an actionable agenda aligned with major
regional and multilateral commitments.8 As a result, the OECD was invited for the first time to take partin the LAC Forum of Ministers of Environment that took place in Panama shortly after the LAC Ministerial
Summit, attracted key stakeholders to its COP28 regional dialogue and amplified the involvement of LAC
countries in strategic OECD initiatives, notably the IFCMA.
37.
In the spring of 2024, the second edition of the SME Policy Index for Latin America and the
Caribbean was launched, featuring three key subregions: Pacific Alliance, Mercosur and the Andean
Community, the former of which incorporated the Index as its main framework for policy co-ordination
on SME Policies. An Academic Forum took place in Colombia, kick-starting the process towards theProgramme’s 2024 Ministerial Summit on Social Inclusion. OECD engagement in the region will be
reinforced by the newly repurposed Mexico Centre focusing on global relations.
Policy Impact in South East Europe (SEE) at a challenging time for the region

38.
The South East Europe (SEE) Regional Programme gained increased prominence in a rapidly
evolving geopolitical environment as its analytical work and policy recommendations have been
extensively used for economic policy making in the SEE region – e.g., impacting the Economic Reform
Programmes and other key national and sectoral strategies – as well as for the EU’s Enlargement Package
reports, which monitor the Western Balkans’ reform progress. The OECD provided substantive inputs tothe Western Balkan Berlin Process, a high-level regional platform that fosters regional economic
integration. At the Berlin Process Leader’s Summit in October 2023, the OECD released the Economic
Convergence Scoreboard for the Western Balkans, which points policy makers to specific areas where
they can channel their efforts to boost sustainable growth.
39.
The OECD provided support to the Western Balkans in implementing the Green Agenda and theDigital Agenda, prepared Circular Economy Roadmaps and established a platform for Regional Circular
Economy Peer Dialogue. The Programme also strengthened institutional capacities to implement national
digitalisation strategies across the Western Balkans. In 2023, the Programme launched its new
Competitiveness Outlook assessment cycle, which helped strengthening policy making for competitivenessin the Western Balkans through inter-ministerial co-ordination and capacity-building of line ministries andstatistical offices. Finally, OECD work in SEE also supported governments in adopting and/or
implementing priority reforms to create a level playing field, fight corruption and strengthen the rule oflaw.
C.2. Strengthened focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

40.
While the SDGs are regularly a key reference point in the OECD’s bilateral discussions with nonMember countries and a central topic in key international fora, including the G7 and the G20, the OECD’s
Regional Programmes and initiatives have increasingly adopted a prominent focus (Table 1) on supporting
their implementation:•

The OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme works with the countries of the Eastern
Partnership and Central Asia on a range of policy priorities that are directly linked to the SDGs,
including the work of the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme in Asia (SDGs 6, 7, 9 and 13),
support for business environment reforms and better policies to support SMEs and entrepreneurs
to promote sustainable, inclusive growth (SDGs 1, 8 and 10), digitalisation and skills (SDGs 4 and8) and governance, integrity and access to justice (SDG 16). The Ukraine Country Programme
furthermore addresses SDGs 2, 5, 11 and 12.

8 The Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainability and Energy Transition Commitments of theSummit of the Americas, the EU-CELAC Summit and the Ibero-American Environmental Charter.

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serves as a platform for various stakeholders to support the achievement of the SDGs (SDG 17).
Initially focused on three main priorities – productivity (SDGs 4, 8 and 9), social inclusion (SDGs
1-5 and 10) and governance (SDG 16) – the programme has recently broadened its focus toencompass environmental sustainability (linked to SDGs 6, 7 and 11-15).

•

The MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness contributes to theadvancement of several SDGs, for example through its work on women’s economic and politicalempowerment (SDG 5), investment, trade and entrepreneurship (SDGs 8 and 9), efficient
governments, transparency and citizens’ engagement (SDG 16) as well as multilateral co-operation(SDG 17).

•The OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) contributes to the achievement of
the SDGs through several of its 13 workstreams. Notable OECD initiatives, such as the Sustainable
Infrastructure Programme in Asia (SIPA) and Clean Energy Finance and Investment Mobilisation(CEFIM), assist Southeast Asian countries in developing clean energy infrastructure (SDGs 7, 9
and 13). The recent Skills Strategy for Southeast Asia offers policy recommendations forenhancing skills (SDG 4) and SEARP supports ASEAN in implementing its Blue Economy
Framework (SDGs 12 and 14). The OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum in Ha Noi, Viet Nam,focused on promoting sustainable and quality investment for inclusive economic growth (SDGs 8
and 11). The Thailand Country Programme furthermore addresses SDG 16.

•

The OECD South East Europe Regional Programme (SEERP) supports the Western Balkan
economies advance the SDGs by means of its projects and workstreams. In particular, the Circular
Economy Roadmaps, the SME Policy Index for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, and theCompetitiveness Outlook for South East Europe provide a detailed assessment and co-operation
approach that allows to track progress across all SDGs (SDGs 1-17) and design targeted policies
to drive the SDGs forward.

•

Finally, the new OECD-Africa Partnership implements a programme of work designed aroundfour key pillars addressing commonly agreed priorities that contribute to the SDGs. The pillar on
investment, trade and value chain resilience supports regional integration, fostering economic
growth, job creation and poverty reduction (SDGs 1, 2, 8, and 9). Moreover, the Partnership
includes a strong pillar on human capital development that contributes to SDGs 4, 5 and 10, and ajust green transition (SDGs 7 and 13).

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Table 1: OECD Regional Programmes’ and initiatives' focus on SDGs

Note: coloured field indicates focus on the respective SDG by the respective OECD Regional Programme.

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III. CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD
41.
The OECD’s global relations are likely to continue facing a complex backdrop, marked byconcerns about economic security and resilience, an intensifying climate crisis, digital disruptions andchallenging population dynamics, along with potential escalating geopolitical tensions.
42.
Effective multilateral co-operation will be needed to craft and implement policies that
effectively address the main challenges of our time. In a context of growing polarisation, which makes
it harder to find common solutions to global problems, OECD Members and Partners will need to work
together even more closely on the development of effective solutions to shared challenges.
43.
At the core, the OECD will seek to ensure that it remains a key source for credible, robustand evidence-based analysis, comprehensive data and advice to inform better economic, social andenvironmental policies. The Organisation will also remain a key enabler and facilitator for inclusive
policy dialogue, mutual learning and standard-setting to help level the global playing field and avoid afragmented global economy governed by competing standards.
44.
Strengthening the OECD’s work on development and supporting the full implementation of
the 2030 Agenda remains key, including by using existing and new measurement tools and modalities ofco-operation, engaging in triangular co-operation and furthering the dialogue with emerging providers ofdevelopment co-operation in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The OECD has also a role in theimplementation of the Paris Pact for People and Planet (4P), supporting increased domestic and private
financing in developing countries to help secure climate objectives and sustainable development, and isalso hosting the Secretariat of the 4P Joint Working Committee.
45.
The OECD remains committed to continue enhancing its presence and impact in the IndoPacific region, to advance impactful work with African countries under the OECD-Africa
Partnership, and to further step up its support to Ukraine’s reconstruction and reform. Different
formats of co-operation will enable the OECD to deliver relevant impact tailored to the needs of its Partners
and aligned with the Organisation’s strategic priorities. While the Organisation does not seek universal
membership, it will also continue its strategic enlargement by supporting relevant reforms throughout theaccession processes of current candidate countries and remaining open to new Members that share theOrganisation’s core values. The accession processes provide considerable reciprocal value to the OECDand contribute to the dissemination of OECD standards and best practices at regional levels.
46.
The Organisation will further build on its extensive engagement with all partner regions andcountries from around the world, through its well-established Regional Programmes, current andpotential new Country Programmes as well as by leveraging the full potential of the OECD’s development
cluster. A special focus will be given to advancing the SDGs and enhancing the OECD’s inclusivenesswith regard to key global policy agendas, such as climate change, digitalisation and artificial intelligence,
gender equality, responsible mining of critical minerals, resilient supply chains, connectivity andinfrastructure. Moreover, the OECD Istanbul Centre, which has been playing a central role in crossregional co-operation, will continue to gain momentum as a global relations hub for policy support, peerto-peer learning and high-level policy dialogue on cross-regional priorities.
47.
In a challenging international context, the OECD’s engagement with global fora and the UN
system remains critical for the Organisation to disseminate its standards beyond its Membership and toreflect emerging and developing economies’ perspectives on international economic agendas. To ensure
coherence and maintain its position as a trusted and inclusive partner in the multilateral system, it will beessential for the OECD to continue informing the discussions and outcomes of international fora such as
the G20, G7 and APEC and to enhance its engagement with the UN system, always mindful of the OECD’score objective of ensuring better policies for better lives.

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ANNEX A: DELIVERING ON OECD GLOBAL RELATIONS TOOLS IN 2023-2024
Key Partners
BrazilMain Deliverables (outside the accession process)Main publications:• OECD Economic Survey (2023)• Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions in Brazil (2023)• Strengthening Integrity Leadership in Brazil’s Federal Public Administration: Applying Behavioural Insights for Public
Integrity (2023)
High-level events:• OECD High-level seminar for 13 cross-party legislators from the Working Group on Tax Reform, Paris
Other contributions:• Supported Brazil’s adherence to the Recommendation on Intellectual Property Rights and Competition[OECD/LEGAL/0495], developed by the Competition Committee in which Brazil is an Associate• Support to Brazil’s G20 Presidency along the Sherpa and Finance Track
Outcomes and impact• Policy impact was achieved through the introduction of a decree aligning the country’s transfer pricing policies with
OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines (March 2023) as well as through the design and consensus building toward theapproval of the VAT Constitutional Amendment in line with OECD standards and best practices. Global impact is
expected through the engagement in support of Brazil’s G20 Presidency.

China
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2023 Update – Resilience under Uncertainty (2023)
High-level events:• Video-remarks of the Secretary-General at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (August 2023)• Visit to the OECD of the President of the Development Research Center of the State Council Minister Lu Hao(September 2023)• Secretary-General participation in the Boao Forum for Asia (March 2024)
Outcomes and impact• Continuous dialogue with China with a view to strengthening co-operation on the country’s alignment with OECD
standards and its coverage in OECD publications.

India
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Multi-level governance and subnational finance in Asia and the Pacific (2023)• Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2023 Reviving Tourism Post-Pandemic (2023)• Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2023 Update – Resilience under Uncertainty (2023)• Production Transformation Policy Reviews of an Indian State (forthcoming 2024)
High-level events:• Secretary-General participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit (September 2023) and G20 Finance Ministers and Central
Bank Governors Meetings (February and July 2023)• Deputy Secretary-General participation at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (March 2023)• Deputy Secretary-General speech at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (March 2023)
Other contributions:• Contributions to India’s G20 Presidency in 2023
• With the Indian Central Board of Direct Taxes, the OECD will establish a new Centre of the OECD Academy for Tax
and Financial Crime Investigation in New Delhi (forthcoming 2024)
Outcomes and impact• Deepened India’s participation in OECD bodies and alignment with OECD standards as well as inclusion of India inOECD flagship publications has been bringing India closer to the OECD.
• Contributed to a more inclusive, rules-based, open and strengthened global economy through support to India’s G20
Presidency.

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Indonesia
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Water Financing and Disaster Risk in Indonesia (2023)• Extending Connectivity in Southeast Asia – Indonesia (2023)• OECD Economic Survey (forthcoming, Q4 2024)• Study on Services Competitiveness in Indonesia (forthcoming 2024)• Product Market Regulation (PMR) in Indonesia: Policy Options for Reform (forthcoming 2024)
High-level events:• Secretary-General meetings in Jakarta with President Widodo, key members of his Cabinet, and participation to highlevel Friends of OECD Roundtable with OECD Ambassadors in Jakarta (August 2023)• Participation of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani in an OECD Council session to explain how the OECD accession process
will contribute to Indonesia’s national development goals (October 2023)• Secretary-General participated in several bilateral meetings with Indonesian Ministers to discuss the accession process
in Paris, including the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Industry and the Minister of National Development Planning(October-November 2023)• High-level delegation led by the Secretary of the Co-ordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs met with the Secretariat
in Paris to deepen understanding of the accession process (November 2023)
Other contributions:• Continued co-operation with Indonesia, including in support of its 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship: 1) taxation through a
CTPA official based in Jakarta; 2) the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Mobilisation Programme (CEFIM); 3) the
Sustainable Infrastructure in Central and Southeast Asia Programme, including responsible business conduct; 4) theblue economy and marine plastic pollution; and 5) food security.
• Continued dialogue with Indonesia on potential adherence to OECD legal instruments, including as part of discussions
related to accession: 1) Anti-Bribery Convention [OECD/LEGAL/0293]; 2) Recommendation on Public Procurement[OECD/LEGAL/0411]; 3) Recommendation on Guidelines for Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises[OECD/LEGAL/0414]; 4) Recommendation on the Governance of Infrastructure [OECD/LEGAL/0460]: and 5)
Recommendation on Water [OECD/LEGAL/0434].
Outcomes and impact• The strong partnership with a coherent whole-of-government approach developed with Indonesia has fostered thecountry’s progressive adoption of the OECD model for economic and social development, including in priority areas
such as taxation, investment and the green transition. This, in turn, has played an important role in Indonesia’s decision
requesting to start the OECD accession process in 2023.

South Africa
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• OECD Economic Survey (forthcoming, Q4 2024)
High-level events:• Ceremony of signature of the Joint Work Programme (JWP) on 16 July 2023 by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana
and Secretary-General Mathias Cormann at the margins of the G20 meeting in Gandhinagar, India
Other contributions:• Signature of the Joint Work Programme (JWP) in July 2023
• OECD Ambassadors’ meeting in Pretoria, hosted by the Embassy of Poland as chair of the Informal Reflection Groupon South Africa• South Africa becoming an Associate in the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA) in August2023• Continued involvement of South Africa in strategic OECD work, including the Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM):
work on a broad range of policy areas, including anti-corruption, tax policy environment and SOEs; South Africa’s
adherence examination to the OECD Code of Liberalisation of Capital Movements [OECD/LEGAL/0002] and potential
adherence to the OECD Code of Liberalisation of Current Invisible Operations [OECD/LEGAL/0001]; and active
participation in OECD bodies• Launch of the Joint Work Programme Monitoring and Co-ordination mechanism
Outcomes and impact• Enhanced Bilateral Collaboration: The implementation of the Joint Work Programme (JWP) between South Africa andthe OECD is a significant advancement in the already fruitful collaboration. This strategic move, endorsed by President
Cyril Ramaphosa, will support the implementation of necessary and ambitious projects in strategic sectors for South
Africa, in line with the National Development Plan, and increase South Africa’s adoption of OECD instruments andstandards.
• Preparation for G20 Presidency: In anticipation of South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025, the OECD is actively
engaging with the country to explore the Organisation’s support, coupled with South Africa's positive response and

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eagerness to prioritise preference for collaboration in key areas. The OECD’s objective is to help with priority- andoutcome-setting as well as capacity building and advancing legacy agendas.

Regional and country-specific approaches
Eurasia
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• SME Policy Index: Eastern Partner Countries 2024 (2023)• Realising the Potential of the Middle Corridor (2023)• Improving the Legal Environment for Business and Investment in Central Asia: Progress Report (2023)• Trade Facilitation in Central Asia (2023)
High-level events:• OECD Eurasia Week, OECD Headquarters, Paris, 12-14 December 2023
• Realising the Potential of the Middle Corridor (with the OECD Istanbul Centre), 6 November 2023
• EU-Central Asia Economic Forum, Almaty, Kazakhstan, May 2023
Other contributions:• Organisation of the 2023 EU-Central Asia Economic Forum, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2023
Outcomes and impact• Policy impact was achieved as Azerbaijan signed and Armenia ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax
Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting [OECD/LEGAL/0432], Tajikistan indicated its
interest to follow suit.
• Kazakhstan joined the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA), Ukraine and Uzbekistan indicatedtheir intention to join as well, bringing the region closer to the Organisation’s work on climate change.
• The Eurasia week reinvigorated high-level policy dialogue between the OECD and the region and a
Memorandum of Understanding signed between the OECD and the Republic of Moldova further expanded the cooperation to support Moldova at a particularly challenging time.

Ukraine (Prospective Member)
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Competition Market Study of Ukraine’s Electricity Sector (June 2023)• Review of Energy Subsidies in the Context of Energy Sector Reforms in Ukraine (December 2023)• Public Administration in Ukraine: Assessment against the Principles of Public Administration (February 2024)
High-level events:• Ukraine Recovery Conference, London• Six meetings of the Multi-Donor Co-ordination Platform for Ukraine
Other contributions:• Input (comments on the draft and capacity building) on the Ukraine Plan
• Financing and implementation of the OECD Ukraine Country Programme (over 59% of budget raised, launch of eight
OECD reviews and five capacity-building activities in H2 2023)• OECD analysis of new draft law on corporate governance of state-owned enterprises prepared for discussion inparliament and with G7 and other donors
Outcomes and impact• The OECD has firmly upheld its commitment to Ukraine, which is a prospective Member of the Organisation, moved
ahead rapidly with the implementation of the Ukraine Country Programme, operationalised the OECD Office in Kyiv
and substantively contributed to the ‘Ukraine Plan’ developed by Ukrainian authorities in connection with the EU’splanned Ukraine Facility.

Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC)
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Towards Climate Resilience and Neutrality in Latin America and the Caribbean: Key Policy Priorities (2023)• Action Plan towards Climate Resilience and Neutrality in Latin America and the Caribbean (2023)• Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean (2023)• Skills in Latin America: Insights from the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) (2023)• Health at a Glance: Latin America and the Caribbean (2023)• Latin American Economic Outlook 2023: Investing in Sustainable Development (2023)• SME Policy Index: Latin America, second edition (forthcoming 2024)

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High-level events:• 1st LAC Ministerial Summit on Environmental Sustainability (October 2023)
Other contributions:• 13 Policy Briefs on Environmental Sustainability• Three Regional policy dialogues and two workshops on environmental sustainability• OECD Economic Outlook – Summary in Spanish for 7 LAC Countries and Press Conference and debate in Casa deAmerica, Madrid• 13 Regional Policy Network meetings in 2023
• OECD-LAC Virtual Pavilion at COP28 Event: Climate change action in Latin America and the Caribbean: Keypriorities and good practices
Outcomes and impact• Partnerships with IOs in the region are stronger than ever. Ten side events took place on the margins of the Ministerial
Summit in Costa Rica, organised by the EU-LAC Foundation, the ILO and the Ibero-American Youth Organisation,
among others. CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the EU supported financially the Ministerial Summit.
• The Ministerial and Action Plan enhanced the positioning of the OECD on the environmental sustainability agenda in
the region. The OECD was invited for the first time to take part in the LAC Forum on Ministers of Environment thattook place in Panama shortly after the LAC Ministerial Summit in Costa Rica. New Partners engaged in the COP28
Event: CCAP, UNDP, Coalition for Circular Economy.
• Ten LAC countries became Associates/members of the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA).
• Enhanced participation and visibility of the OECD in key regional summits, notably the Ibero-American Summit inMarch 2023; and the EU-LAC Summit in July 2023.

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Review of Women’s Economic Empowerment in Morocco, part of the Morocco Country Programme Phase II (January2024)• Addressing Informality in the Middle East and North Africa: Policy perspectives from the region, an ILO/OECD/UNDP
Publication (April 2024)
High-level events:• Launch of the Egypt Country Programme (17-18 October 2023)• Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union and Programme of Work for the OECD-Africa Partnership(October 2023)• UAE-OECD Policy Alignment Project wrap-up seminar (19-20 December 2023)• Co-ordination Committee of the Egypt Country Programme (15 April 2024)• First collective action roundtable (ECP), Cairo (forthcoming, Q4 2024)
Other contributions:• OECD-Egypt Country Programme• OECD-Morocco Country Programme• EU-OECD Programme on Investment in the Mediterranean• OECD-Siemens Project on Fair Market Conditions for Competitiveness in Algeria and Saudi Arabia• EU-OECD Project on Promoting Public-Private Dialogue in Libya• EU-OECD Project on Promoting Economic Resilience in Yemen• OECD-UAE Policy Alignment Project• Strengthened co-operation with Saudi Arabia, discussions for a Memorandum of Understanding and Action Plan with
the Ministry of Economy and Planning• Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Southern Mediterranean: Enhancing Women Entrepreneurs’ Financial
Inclusion and Access to Finance in the Digital Age (upcoming project in 2024)
Outcomes and impact• The OECD remained at the fore of innovative partnerships with the MENA region, bringing discussions about
challenges and policy priorities based on OECD standards and best practices, providing a respected and well-establishedplatform for policy dialogue and peer learning with a view to meeting global challenges and levelling the global playing
field.

Egypt
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• OECD Economic Survey: Egypt 2024 (launch February 2024)
High-level events:• Egypt Country Programme launch event (October 2023)

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• Egypt’s ICT Minister visited the OECD in June 2023, strengthening collaboration on information and communication
technologies• Egyptian Ambassador Alaa Youssef contributed to the Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM)
Other contributions:• Egypt Country Programme Co-ordination Committee Meeting (May 2023)• Meeting between Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, and key
Directors at the OECD in November 2023 demonstrated Egypt's active engagement in discussions on science,technology and education• Deputy Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk's participation in the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches(IFCMA) meetings has further solidified Egypt's role in climate action• The Country Programme is assessing Egypt’s alignment with the OECD Recommendation on Digital Government
Strategies [OECD/LEGAL/0406] as well as providing support for Egypt’s inclusion in the Digital Government Index
Outcomes and impact• The Egypt Country Programme successfully contributed to the design of Egypt’s new AI strategy, offered advice on
economic reforms through the inaugural Egypt-OECD economic survey and actively built capacity for the
implementation of the SDGs. These results will be expanded upon in the next two years of continued implementation.

MoroccoMain Deliverables
Main publications:• Les contrats entre niveaux de gouvernement, Un outil pour la régionalisation avancée au Maroc (2023)• Examens de l'OCDE sur la gouvernance publique : Maroc (2023)• De l’engagement à la mise en œuvre : Assurer l’autonomisation économique des femmes au Maroc (16 January 2024)• OECD Economic Survey: Morocco 2024 (forthcoming, September 2024)
High-level events:• Strategic high-level discussion within the framework of the Morocco Country Programme (MCP) (20 June 2023)• High-level event to launch the OECD Economic Survey: Morocco 2024 and present the results of the study(forthcoming, September 2024)
Other contributions:• OECD Ambassadors’ meeting in Rabat gathered around 20 Ambassadors and senior representatives from OECD
countries, as well as partner organisations such as the UN and the IMF, to present preliminary findings and impact of
the Morocco Country Programme and discuss the way forward (June 2023)• OECD Morocco Strategic meeting held in Rabat to initiate an in-depth strategic reflection on the Morocco Country
Programme 2 and its impact, and to discuss the way forward with senior officials and OECD experts involved in the
programme implementation (June 2023)• Event held to launch and present the Morocco Public Governance Review and discuss the way forward towards
implementation of the recommendation (June 2023)• Morocco Economic Desk launch held in Paris to formally launch the country desk at the OECD (October 2023)• Morocco Country Programme 5th co-ordination meeting held to review the progress made in implementing the
programme and to outline planned milestones until the programme's conclusion in June 2024 (November 2023)• Roundtable on “Ensuring the implementation of the OECD Recommendation on Gender Equality in Education,
Employment and Entrepreneurship in Morocco” was held in Rabat to present a report on women economic
empowerment (16 January 2024)
Outcomes and impact• In all the areas of work covered by the Country Programme, the projects have established or consolidated mechanisms
to strengthen policy coherence and inter-ministerial co-ordination and supported the New Development Model goals
and the governmental agenda.
• The work conducted by the Morocco Desk for the Economic Survey is already improving the methodology used tocollect and analyse the data necessary to produce macroeconomic forecasts.

OECD-Africa Partnership
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Africa’s Development Dynamics (2023)• Africa’s Development Dynamics (forthcoming 2024)• Revenue Statistics (2023)• Revenue Statistics (forthcoming, Q3 2024)• Urbanisation and Conflicts in North and West Africa (2023)• International Tax and Africa - OECD Report for the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (2023)

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High-level events:• Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union and Programme of Work for the OECD-Africa Partnership(October 2023)• AUC-OECD International Economic Forum on Africa (October 2023)• Signature of the Joint Programme of Work with South Africa (July 2023)• AUC-OECD Global AI Governance Dialogue (upcoming Q1 2024)• AUC-OECD International Economic Forum on Africa (forthcoming, Q4 2024)• Launch of the AUC-OECD African Virtual Investment Platform (AfVIP) on the margins of the G7 Leaders’ Summit(upcoming Q2 2024)
Other contributions:• AUC-OECD African Virtual Investment Platform (AfVIP) (upcoming 2024)• OECD Sustainable Investment Programme for Africa (SIPA)• OECD Responsible Minerals Implementation Programme• Africa Initiative of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes and regional
partners in Africa• Fiscal Transition Support Programme in West Africa• AUC-OECD Platform on Investment and Productive Transformation in Africa• ECOWAS: Unlocking Investment for Development• Emerging Markets Network (EMnet)• VAT Digital Toolkit for Africa• OECD/AfDB joint initiative to support business integrity and anti-bribery efforts in Africa• OECD joint project with the APRM on policy coherence for implementing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 in Africa• Development of the Mauritius Country Programme (forthcoming, September 2024)
Outcomes and impact• Policy impact through mutually beneficial collaboration in areas that are key to both Africa’s transformational agenda
and the global economy. The MoU signed between the OECD and the AU strengthened the coherence and effectivenessof the co-operation, thus paving the way for stronger ties and concrete policy impact in strategic areas of mutual interest.

Southeast Asia (SEA)
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Multi-level governance and subnational finance in Asia and the Pacific (2023)• Enabling Sustainable Investment in ASEAN (2023)• Revenue Statistics in Asia and the Pacific (2023)• Extending Connectivity in SEA: Outreach Programme of the OECD Broadband Connectivity Recommendation (2023)• Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2023 - Update: Resilience Under Uncertainty (2023)• Harmful Tax Practices – 2022 Peer Review Reports on the Exchange of Information on Tax Rulings (2023)• Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2023, Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change (chapters on thePhilippines, Viet Nam and Indonesia) (2023)• OECD Economic Survey of Viet Nam (2023)• OECD Skills Strategy Southeast Asia (2023)• Corporate Bond Markets in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities for Growth Companies (2024)• SIGI 2024 Regional Report for Southeast Asia: Time to Care (2024)• The Limits of DeFi for Financial Inclusion: Lessons from ASEAN (2024)• Nature-based solutions for flood management in Asia and the Pacific (2024)• Towards Greener and More Inclusive Societies in Southeast Asia (2024)• Fostering Catastrophe Bond Markets in Asia and the Pacific (2024)• ASEAN SME Policy Index 2024 (forthcoming)• Start-up Asia: Chasing the innovation frontier (forthcoming)
High-level events:• 4th High-Level meeting of the Asia Initiative of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for
Tax Purposes (27 April 2023)• 3rd Regional Ocean Policy Dialogue on Marine Plastic Pollution in Southeast Asia, Bali, Indonesia (3-4 May 2023)• 6th ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit, Bali, Indonesia (23-25 August 2023)• 11th OECD-AMRO-ADB-ADBI-ERIA Asian Regional Roundtable on Macroeconomic and Structural Policies,
Jakarta, Indonesia (3 September 2023)• 2023 OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum, Ha Noi, Viet Nam (26-27 October 2023)• High-level launch of the report ‘Extending Connectivity in SEA: Outreach Programme of the OECD Broadband
Connectivity Recommendation’, Ha Noi, Viet Nam (27 October 2023)

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• 5th High-Level meeting of the Asia Initiative of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for
Tax Purposes (28 November 2023)• High-Level Representatives of Asia-Pacific Competition Authorities (December 2023)• Launch Of the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Roadmap of The Philippines (7 March 2024)
Other contributions:• Anticipated launch of Viet Nam Country Programme (2024)• Singapore became a Participant in the Trade Committee• Viet Nam’s signature and ratification of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures toPrevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting [OECD/LEGAL/0432] and the Convention on Mutual Administrative
Assistance in Tax Matters as amended by the 2010 Protocol [OECD/LEGAL/0382]
Outcomes and impact• The Regional Programme’s longstanding engagement with Southeast Asia and its work to improve understanding of
the OECD’s work, objectives and values has helped create the conditions for countries from the region to signal theirinterest in becoming OECD Members.

Thailand Country Programme Phase 2
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes: Thailand 2023 (Second Round): Peer
Review Report on the Exchange of Information on Request (November 2023)• Second OECD Economic Survey of Thailand (December 2023)• Clean Energy Finance and Investment Roadmap of Thailand (forthcoming, Q2 2024)• OECD Review of the Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises in Thailand (forthcoming, Q3 2024)• Report analysing Thailand’s anti-corruption framework (forthcoming 2024)• Review of Public Service Leadership and Capability in the Central Government of Thailand (forthcoming 2024)• Public Governance Review of Thailand (forthcoming 2024)• OECD Review of the Statistical System of Thailand (forthcoming 2024)• OECD Regulatory Policy Review of Thailand (forthcoming 2024)• OECD Skills Strategy: Assessment and Recommendations Report on Thailand (forthcoming 2024)
High-level events:• Launch of the Second Economic Survey of Thailand (December 2023)• Launch of Clean Energy Finance and Investment Roadmap of Thailand (forthcoming, Q2 2024)• Mid-term Review of Thailand Country Programme Phase 2 (forthcoming, Q4 2024)
Other contributions:• Presentation of the progress of Thailand Country Programme Phase 2 by a high-level representative from the Thai
Government at the External Relations Committee in November 2023
Outcomes and impact• Deepened engagement between the OECD and Thailand, in particular Thailand’s consideration in upgrading its status
in the OECD bodies and increasing its alignment with and adherence to the OECD legal instruments.
• Building on its longstanding engagement with the OECD, Thailand requested to begin the OECD accession process in
February 2024.

South East Europe (SEE)
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Economic Convergence Scoreboard for the Western Balkans 2023 (2023)• Developing Anti-Corruption Programmes in State-Owned Enterprises: Manual for compliance officers in Croatia andSerbia (2023)
High-level events:• OECD Western Balkans Competitiveness Outlook 2024
o Regional Assessment Kick-off Meeting, OECD Paris (April 2023)
o Eight fact-finding policy roundtables in the Western Balkans (July-October 2023): Tirana, Sarajevo, Banja Luka,
Mostar, Skopje, Pristina, Podgorica, Belgradeo High-level Conference “Digital Transition in Serbia” with participation of the Secretary-General and the Prime
Minister, Belgrade, Serbia (October 2023)
o Regional roundtable “Presentation of Regional Preliminary Assessment Findings”, OECD Istanbul Centre(December 2023)• OECD Circular Economy Regional Launch Event at the OECD Istanbul Centre (April 2023) and 14 stakeholder meetingsin preparation of the Circular Economy Roadmaps for Albania and North Macedonia

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Affairs of Croatia (Dubrovnik Forum, July 2023)• Deputy Secretary-General participation in the Western Balkan Summit 2023 of the Berlin Process: Leaders’ Meeting andMinisters of Economy Meeting (October 2023)• Friends of South East Europe meeting with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, followed by official
signing ceremony of the Croatia-supported Western Balkan project with the Secretary-General and the Minister(November 2023)
Other contributions:• Provided analytical inputs to the EU Enlargement Package reports, which monitor the progress made by the Western
Balkans on their path towards EU accession• Continued policy dialogue activities (e.g., combatting plastic pollution, competition policy, business support services)
Outcomes and impact• Reinforced the OECD’s role at the highest political level in bolstering economic reforms in the Western Balkans andpreparing the region's economies for a green and digital future through participation in the Berlin Process Leaders’Summit and Economic Ministerial Meeting and bilateral meetings of the Secretary-General with leaders and ministers
from the region.
• Improved capacity of Western Balkan policy makers and non-government stakeholders to identify economy-specificpolicy challenges and reform priorities in line with OECD and EU standards and good practices, and increased awarenessof common policy challenges and regional collaboration potential among Western Balkan policy makers under the OECD
Western Balkans Competitiveness Outlook 2024 related activities.
• Strengthened the ability of policy makers to monitor the economic convergence of the Western Balkans towards the EU
and OECD, and to identify priority policy areas for enhanced economic growth.
• Supported the adoption and/or implementation of priority reforms to create a level playing field (e.g., Serbia adopting a
new SOE strategy, Croatia updating its whistleblowing act, Bosnia and Herzegovina amending its public procurementlaw).
• Intensified stakeholders’ engagement in circular economy policy development and implementation within the Western
Balkans through the preparation of Circular Economy Roadmaps and establishment of a platform for Regional Circular
Economy Peer Dialogue.
• Strengthened institutional capacities to implement national digitalisation strategies across the Western Balkans, resulting
in an increased rollout of available e-services for citizens and businesses.

Co-operation with other international organisations and fora
Engagement with the G20, G7, APEC and the United Nations
Main Deliverables
Main publications:• Revised G20-OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2023)• Bottlenecks to Access SDG Finance in Developing Countries (2023)• Financing Cities of Tomorrow (2023)• Women at Work in G20 Countries (2023)• Towards Orderly Green Transition – Investment Requirements and Managing Risks to Capital Flows (2023)• 2023 G7 Gender Gaps Dashboard and Implementation Report (2023)• Tax Co-operation for the 21st Century (2023)• Towards a G7 Common Understanding on Generative AI (2023)
High-level events:• In 2023, the OECD Secretary-General attended the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, the G20 Leaders’ Summit in
Delhi (as well as a supplementary virtual Leaders’ Summit convened by India’s 2023 G20 Presidency), eleven virtualand in-person G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meetings and the APEC Finance Ministers’Meetings in San Francisco• Deputy Secretary-General Knudsen attended the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting; G7 Digital and Technology
Ministers’ Meeting; G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting; G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meeting; and G20 Trade andInvestment Ministers’ Meeting• Deputy Secretary-General Jones attended the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting• Deputy Secretary-General Takeuchi attended the G7 Education Ministers’ Meeting; G7 Employment Ministers’Meeting; G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers’ Meeting; G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting (accompanying theSecretary-General); G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting; G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting; G20 Health
Ministers’ Meeting; and G20 Joint Finance-Health Ministers Meeting• Active contribution to the 2023 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (July 2023, New York)• High-level participation in the 2023 SDG Summit and High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development• Participation in the 2024 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development
Other contributions:Japan’s 2023 G7 Presidency (Completed)• Informed discussions on the economic impact of Russia’s large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine

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• Provided updates on the implementation of the Two-Pillar Solution, prepared the 2023 G7 Dashboard on Gender Gapsand supported the Hiroshima Process• Contributed analysis on: industrial subsidies and cross-border data flows, the impacts and costs of economic coercion
measures, vulnerabilities in clean energy supply chains, and Foreign Direct Investment in critical infrastructure in
ASEAN and Africa
Italy’s 2024 G7 Presidency (Ongoing)• Exploring potential contributions to Italy’s priorities, including: engaging and mobilising African countries as actors
and partners for climate action, energy security and migration, and unlocking investment and job creation opportunities
in African countries; supporting G7 efforts on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction; advancing work on generative
Artificial Intelligence; and leveraging the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA) to inform
dialogue and outreach to the Global South on climate change mitigation policies• Preparing the 2024 G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps
India’s 2023 G20 Presidency (Completed)• Informed discussions on the economic impacts of Russia’s large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine• Updated G20 members on implementation of the Two-Pillar Solution and OECD initiatives on tax transparency• Informed discussions on the G20 Green Development Pact and the High-Level Principles on Lifestyle for Sustainable
Development• Supported implementation of G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap and the G20 Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda• Supported the revision of the G20-OECD Principles of Corporate Governance and supported the G20-OECD
Infrastructure Investors’ Dialogue• Continued joint OECD-ILO annual monitoring of the Brisbane and Antalya Targets
Brazil’s 2024 G20 Presidency (Ongoing)• Supporting Brazil’s priority on “Digital Government through Reliable and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure forDevelopment” through analysis on digital identity and Digital Public Infrastructure, content-creation for Brazil’s key
deliverables in the Digital Economy Working Group and co-organising events• Informing work on training education professionals and valuing teaching careers, including international exchanges• Preparing analysis on agri-food supply chains and on trilateral co-operation• Contributing to all Finance Track Working Groups, with planned deliverables including analysis on the distributional
impact of green policies; analytical contributions on capital flow resilience and sovereign debt issuance in emerging anddeveloping economies; and a report on financing and investment in climate resilient infrastructure
United States’ 2023 APEC Host Year (Completed)• Supported the development and rollout of the APEC Services Index, which is based on the OECD Services Trade
Restrictiveness Index• Supported a project on modernising and aligning the APEC Principles on the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcementof Anti-Bribery Laws with OECD standards (e.g., Anti-Bribery Recommendation)
Peru’s 2024 APEC Host Year (Ongoing)• Exploring potential contributions on inclusive trade, women’s empowerment, informality, renewable energy andsustainable finance• Preparing two workshops on sustainable finance (February 2024)
United Nations processes• Analytical work contributing to global SDG follow-up and review efforts, including in the context of the HLPF and
SDG Summit as well as Financing for Development• Contributions to policy dialogue on issues such as development finance, water, cities, development in middle-income
countries and small island developing states• Regular informal briefing of Members and Partners on current and emerging issues (e.g., taxation)
Outcomes and impact• Increased the OECD’s visibility in South Asia through engagement with India’s 2023 G20 Presidency.
• The 2023 G7 Leaders’ communiqué: expressed “strong” support for the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation
Approaches (IFCMA); re-emphasised the G7’s strong political commitment to the swift global implementation of the
Two-Pillar Solution; welcomed the OECD Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data Held by Private Sector
Entities; and highlighted the G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps, among other OECD contributions.
• The 2023 G20 Leaders’ Declaration contained strong references to the OECD. For example, G20 Leaders: endorsed therevised G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance; looked forward to enlarging participation in the OECD AntiBribery Convention, as appropriate; reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the Brisbane Goal and asked the ILO
and OECD to report progress annually; agreed to extend the coverage of the ILO and OECD Skills for Jobs Databases
to G20 countries, as appropriate; and reiterated their commitment to the swift implementation of the Two-Pillar Solution.
• Improved awareness and appreciation of OECD standards and bodies and their contribution to global development
efforts under the auspices of the UN.
• Enhanced awareness of risks and potential challenges presented by developments at the UN, and improved Secretariat
and Member capacity to respond to these.

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ANNEX B: ADHERENCE TO OECD LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONIN OECD BODIESThe main objective of the OECD’s Global Relations Strategy is to integrate non-Members into theOrganisation’s work with a view to meet global challenges and to level the global playing field. Adherence
to OECD legal instruments and partnerships in OECD bodies remain fundamental to enable theOrganisation to promote and disseminate its values, increase the relevance of alignment with its standards
and enrich policy discussions in OECD bodies with different or new perspectives. Partners’ participation
in meetings also helps broaden the reach of the OECD’s databases and indicators and build morecomprehensive and accurate comparisons of policies and practices at the international level.
The number of partnerships and adherences by non-Members continues to grow despite the uncertain
global context. Adherence by partner countries to the 268 OECD legal instruments currently in force
amounts to a total of 1076 at present, with 50 new adherences accomplished in the past year. Accession
candidate countries, Key Partners and non-OECD G20 countries, as well as Partners in a Country
Programme or any other structured, country-specific approach (see the list in Table 1) constitute 647
adherences, accounting for 60% of non-Member adherence.
Table 1. Partnerships and Adherences of Selected Partner Countries
Non-Members included in this table were included based on their status as Key Partners, G20
Countries1, accession candidate countries and selected Partners
Country
Argentina b, dBrazil a, b, d
Bulgaria d
China a, b
Croatia d
Egypt cIndia a, b
Indonesia a, b
Kazakhstan c
Mauritius c
Morocco c
Peru c, dRomania d
Saudi Arabia b
South Africa a, bThailand c
Ukraine cViet Nam c

Associate/member
14
16
13
7
9
6
10
6
9
4
10
7
17
4
10
5
7
3

Partnerships2
Participant
17
22
9
5
5
7
10
5
14
1
3
12
6
5
21
5
6
1

Total
31
38
22
12
14
13
20
11
23
5
13
19
23
9
31
10
13
4

Adherences3
58
119
62
10
50
25
14
15
42
2
35
53
79
7
24
10
34
8

Notes: a: Key Partner; b: G20 country; c: Former, current or prospective Country Programme partner; d: Accession candidate country
1. With regard to the Russian Federation, on 24 February 2022, the OECD decided to reconsider all co-operation with Russia as amatter of urgency. The OECD Council took a number of initial decisions on 25 February 2022 [C/M(2022)3, Item 67] and on 8 March
2022, the OECD Council decided an immediate suspension of the participation of Russia and Belarus in OECD bodies and to review
the situation as appropriate [C/M(2022)4, Item 73].
2. These figures include Associate/member status granted in line with the Resolution of the Council on Partnerships in OECD Bodies[C(2012)100/REV2/FINAL] as well as similar membership status in OECD programmes, entities within the OECD family or hosted
entities, i.e. of the Development Centre, the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, theNuclear Energy Agency, the International Transport Forum, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, and the Governing Boardof the Programme for Teaching and Learning International Survey.
3. Data on partnerships and adherences as of 16 April 2024.

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Adherences

Figure 1 illustrates the overall increase in the total number of non-Member adherences across all OECDlegal instruments during the past decade.
The following OECD legal instruments are those with the largest number of adherences by non-Members:•

Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters as amended by
the 2010 Protocol [OECD/LEGAL/0382] (87 non-Members are Parties);•

Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent
Base Erosion and Profit Shifting [OECD/LEGAL/0432] (49 non-Members are
Parties);•

Istanbul Ministerial Declaration on Fostering the Growth of Innovative andInternationally Competitive SMEs [OECD/LEGAL/0328] (38 non-Member
Adherents);•

Decision of the Council Revising the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certificationor the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade [OECD/LEGAL/0308] (27non-Member Adherents);•

Declaration on Strengthening SMEs and Entrepreneurship for Productivity andInclusive Growth [OECD/LEGAL/0439] (17 non-Member Adherents).

Figure 1. Non-Member adherences to OECD legal instruments

Source: OECD Directorate for Legal Affairs data (as of 16 April 2024)

The dissemination of OECD standards and best practices has increased globally over the past decade, as
evidenced by increased adherence to OECD legal instruments across all OECD Regional Programmes.
Figure 2 illustrates the growth of non-Member adherences across the Regional Programmes.9 This isfurther shown by the findings of the second phase of the project Considering Partners’ Convergence with
OECD Standards to Level the Global Playing Field [ERC(2022)5/REV1], which assessed theconvergence between partner countries10 and OECD standards. Phase three of this project is scheduled for2024.
9 It should be noted when comparing these trends that the five Comprehensive Regional Programmes engage with a different number of partner

economies and were all established at different times.
10 The countries included are: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, People’s Republic of China, Croatia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,

Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Viet Nam.

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Figure 2. Non-Member adherences to OECD legal instruments by Regional Programme

300

272

250

211

200
150
100

131
102

50

63

EURASIA

LAC

MENA

SEA

2023

2020

2017

2014

2011

2008

2005

2002

1999

1996

1993

1990

1987

1984

1981

1978

1975

1972

1969

1966

1963

1960

0

SEE

Source: OECD Directorate for Legal Affairs data (as of 16 April 2024)

Partnerships

Encouraging partner country engagement and participation in OECD bodies facilitates global policy
dialogue, which in turn helps to promote the uptake of OECD standards beyond OECD Members. This
provides partner countries with opportunities to benefit from policy insights and participate in discussions
with OECD Members in OECD bodies. As such, the participation in OECD bodies forms the backbone ofOECD engagement with partner countries.
As with adherences, partner country engagement in OECD bodies is geographically dispersed due to thediversity of partner countries invited to participate in OECD bodies.
Figure 3 highlights the growing engagement of partner countries that are participating in an OECD
Regional Programme in OECD bodies as Associates/members and Participants.
Figure 3. Partnership trends by region
Associates/members and Participants
140

120

119

100
80
77
64
61

80
60
40
20
0
1992 1995 1997 2000 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023
EURASIA

LAC

MENA

SEA

SEE

Source: Database of partnerships in OECD bodies (as of 16 April 2024)

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