OECD starts accession talks with Indonesia

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced Tuesday that it has started accession talks with Indonesia.

Indonesia has been a key partner country of the OECD since 2007 and helped launch the OECD's Southeast Asia Regional Programme in 2014, it said in a statement.

The country is the biggest economy in Southeast Asia.

The OECD has 38 member countries.

The OECD launched an "Enhanced Engagement Initiative" in May 2007 with Indonesia and four other countries -- Brazil, China, India and South Africa.

While an enhanced engagement is distinct from accession to the OECD, it provides an opportunity for potential membership should a partner country decide to explore that possibility, according to the OECD.