At the 2025 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, Indonesia formally submitted its Initial Memorandum (IM) to OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, a milestone that propels the nation further into the accession process. The IM serves as a self-assessment document, aligning Indonesia’s laws, policies, and practices with OECD standards.
This submission, led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, marks the transition into the technical review phase, where expert committees will evaluate Indonesia's alignment across critical sectors such as governance, environment, education, trade, and public integrity.
What’s Inside the Initial Memorandum?
The Initial Memorandum is a central requirement in the OECD accession process. It outlines the country’s alignment with 240 OECD legal instruments, organized into 32 chapters, and highlights regulatory and institutional reforms Indonesia has undertaken or will pursue.
This comprehensive document was compiled in under a year, following the adoption of Indonesia’s Accession Roadmap in 2024. The effort involved 64 ministries and institutions, coordinated across 26 policy sectors and eight cross-sectoral areas, guided by Presidential Decree No. 17/2024 and Coordinating Ministerial Decree No. 232/2024.
Minister Airlangga emphasized that the completion of the IM is “a significant achievement,” but noted that Indonesia is entering a long-term marathon, with the next stage involving intensive reviews by 25 OECD expert committees.
Fighting Corruption, Embracing Global Norms
Indonesia’s submission was accompanied by a formal request to join the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, signaling a firm commitment to strengthening anti-corruption efforts. The Convention is one of the OECD’s core legal frameworks and a prerequisite for full membership.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann commended Indonesia’s progress, stating that the country’s move demonstrates a strong commitment to global standards, while also recognizing Indonesia as a key voice in the Asia-Pacific region.
The accession process is expected to catalyze further domestic reforms, providing a structured framework to enhance economic resilience, transparency, and inclusive growth. This aligns with Indonesia’s 2045 vision to become an advanced economy, using OECD membership as a tool to reinforce national competitiveness and global engagement.
High-Level Engagements and Multilateral Cooperation
While in Paris from June 2–5, 2025, Minister Airlangga engaged in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with representatives from the United States, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, New Zealand, and the ASEAN Secretariat. These engagements aim to garner support for Indonesia's accession and explore trade and investment cooperation.
He also participated in sessions of the OECD Ministerial Council, which this year was chaired by Costa Rica under the theme “Leading the Way Towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Prosperity Through Rules-Based Trade, Investment and Innovation.”
In addition, Airlangga joined informal ministerial dialogues hosted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), discussing global economic trends and WTO reform agendas. A meeting with Indonesian professionals working at the OECD Secretariat in Paris was also scheduled as part of the outreach.
Why This Matters for Indonesia’s Global Ambitions
Indonesia has been an OECD Key Partner since 2007, and served as inaugural co-chair of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme in 2014. In 2024, it became the first Southeast Asian country invited to begin the accession process, underscoring its growing global stature.
According to Minister Airlangga, this effort supports broader strategic goals—including tariff negotiations with key trading blocs such as the United States, CPTPP, and Indonesia-EU CEPA—as part of an integrated strategy to boost trade, attract investment, and modernize governance.
He concluded by urging all stakeholders to maintain momentum and energy as the accession enters its next, more demanding phase, stating that continued collaboration and political will will be key to realizing full OECD membership.
Reference(s)
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2025, June 3). Indonesia reaches key milestones in OECD accession process. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2025/06/indonesia-reaches-key-milestones-in-oecd-accession-process.html
- Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian Republik Indonesia. (2025, June 2–3). Siaran Pers HM.02.04/195/SET.M.EKON.3/06/2025 & HM.02.04/197/SET.M.EKON.3/06/2025.
