The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday it has begun reviewing membership for Indonesia, the first Southeast Asian country to request to join the intergovernmental body.
The OECD said in February that it had opened discussions with Indonesia for its accession to the organization, whose 38 members mostly comprise Western nations. The Japanese government has expressed support for more Asian countries joining the Paris-based body.
OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann, in a speech Thursday, said the move came as a result of Indonesia's "remarkable economic reform, development and growth journey over the past two decades," as he welcomed the country's progress toward membership.
Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's coordinating minister for economic affairs, also noted the historic nature of the accession talks.
For Indonesia, joining the OECD -- often dubbed the "club of developed countries" -- represents a significant step toward achieving its long-held aspiration of becoming an advanced economy.
There have, however, been concerns about the organization's waning influence amid the rise of non-member countries like China and India.
