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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 14 Jan 2008 Title: SA's relations with global economic body "positive" -------------------- By Shaun Benton Cape Town - The relations between South Africa and the 30-member Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are "extremely positive and moving fast." At the end of the fourth meeting of the OECD held in Cape Town, the organisation's Deputy Secretary-General, Pier Carlo Padoan, said they are currently undergoing "a process of rapid change" with the inclusion of new members and "enhanced engagement" with a number of others, including South Africa. The OECD counts some of the world's richest and most highly industrialised countries among its members. Responding to a question regarding South Africa's possible membership of the organisation, whose mandate he described as providing "a hub for globalisation", the Deputy Secretary-General said if that were to occur, South Africa could participate actively in "defining new rules" for the organisation as the globalisation process advances. Such a move, he said, would recognise South Africa's status as a key player in the global system. He added that membership of the OECD, as a sector-structured organisation that promotes common grounds and programmes, was a process. He indicated that the organisation saw great potential for new members to enrich and develop the it's group view, but added that for its members to exploit the benefits of market-driven growth, it relied on the development of "good institutions" and "good rules". Speaking more broadly, Mr Padoan added that as a fast-growing region, Africa has great potential that is just beginning to be realised and said that efficient tax administration was a key element of good institutions. Responding to a similar question after delivering the opening address to the fourth meeting of the OECD's Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) a day earlier, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said there were benefits to be had for a country from being in an environment where useful information was freely shared. As such, the minister indicated that the OECD, with its sector-specific programmes and openness to an adjusted paradigm within a fast-changing, globalising world, was an environment where critical information was shared among its expanding membership. OECD literature describes the organisation as "a unique forum where governments share ideas and expertise to develop policies to tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of the globalised economy." The organisation is regarded as perhaps being best known as "one of the world's largest and most reliable sources of comparable, statistical, economic and social data" which can help governments to understand and respond to new developments and concerns. Speaking to the media a day later, Mr Padoan, noted that public administrations are mandated to provide services to citizens. At the FTA's closing press conference, he indicated that the purpose of the FTA initiative was to move forward to building better institutions. Part of this process was about developing better relations between institutions and taxpayers, adding that the FTA was about promoting guidelines sharing good practices, achieving common goals and enhanced cooperation among nations. The FTA meeting was open to all the organisation's member countries, with observers including Argentina, Chile, China, India, the Russian Federation and South Africa, while representatives of multilateral institutions the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the World Bank were also present. The roots of the OECD itself go back to the Marshall Plan that was designed to rebuild the European economy after World War 2, with the organisation's 30 members now comprising market democracies that jointly produce 60 percent of the world's goods and services. It's members are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the European Commission also participating in the work of the OECD. Countries expected to become new members shortly, according to an official, include Estonia, Slovenia, Israel, Chile and the Russian Federation. - BuaNews |
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