Indonesia Strengthens Anti-Bribery Commitment in OECD Accession Efforts

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id – Indonesia is reaffirming its commitment to combating bribery as part of its efforts to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, aiming to strengthen governance, economic policies, and international relations.

The government views OECD accession as a strategic transformation that will elevate Indonesia’s standing in global governance and economic management.

“We hope that by joining the OECD, we can develop better policies for a better life. Our policies will align with global standards, benefiting the public,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, who also chairs Indonesia’s OECD National Task Force, at the Workshop and Technical Discussion Supporting Indonesia in Fighting Foreign Bribery: Towards Accession to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention in Jakarta on Monday. The event was also attended virtually by OECD Director Nicole Pino.

Currently, the accession process is in the stage of drafting an initial memorandum, a comprehensive assessment of Indonesia’s regulatory alignment with 239 OECD legal instruments, spanning 32 chapters. Each sector is responsible for conducting its assessment, including the anti-corruption domain, which is coordinated by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police (Polri).

“This process involves realigning our regulations with OECD legal frameworks. Some countries take longer to complete this phase. However, we have a strategy that we previously used—the Omnibus Law approach. There are two ways to proceed: ratification and Omnibus Law adjustments for key areas. We expect to complete our initial memorandum submission in the first quarter of 2025, allowing us to present it at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in June,” Airlangga explained.

Strengthening Indonesia’s Position in Global Economic Governance

Airlangga also expressed appreciation for the OECD member states' support for Indonesia’s participation in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a key pillar of international financial governance.

Highlighting Indonesia’s economic vision, Airlangga emphasized the country’s aspiration to be among the world’s top ten economies.

“In terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), Indonesia is already ranked eighth globally, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with an economy valued at $4.8 trillion,” he stated.

“Based on G20 rankings, we are currently 16th in terms of GDP. Last year, we approached a per capita GDP of $5,000, and by 2030, we aim to surpass $12,000. Our PPP valuation places us ahead of several other nations, reinforcing Indonesia’s position as a strong contender for OECD membership,” he added.

OECD Membership: A Step Toward Greater Transparency

During the workshop, Airlangga acknowledged the support of KPK and the Japanese Embassy, emphasizing Indonesia’s commitment to fighting corruption, particularly foreign bribery, as part of its OECD accession efforts.

“This workshop serves as a key moment in strengthening Indonesia’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and a fair economy. I hope that KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto, alongside his team, and Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, will play a leading role in driving transparency and fairness in the economy,” he said.

Regarding Japan’s support, Airlangga highlighted Indonesia’s decade-long collaboration with Japan to promote OECD engagement within ASEAN. Indonesia aims to be the first ASEAN country to secure OECD membership.

“This has been a challenging process. Japan’s Ambassador Masaki Yasushi noted that even Japan found the accession process difficult. That is why we are starting early, demonstrating Indonesia’s commitment before the March deadline, which will be a significant credit point at the June OECD meeting,” Airlangga noted.

Looking ahead, the Indonesian government expects OECD membership to boost economic growth, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto’s target of 8% economic expansion, with investment as a key driver.

“With a favorable investment climate—both domestic and international—we expect investment inflows to increase. Given today’s global uncertainties, we must strengthen partnerships within the Asia-Pacific, including ASEAN, Japan, and other regional collaborations. Expanding our network within the OECD is a crucial step in this direction,” Airlangga concluded.

Among those present at the event were Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso, Deputy for Economic Cooperation and Investment Coordination Edi Prio Pambudi, Assistant Deputy for Multilateral Economic Cooperation Ferry Ardiyanto, and representatives from the OECD.