Jakarta. Indonesia’s push to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is a strategic move to strengthen national competitiveness and economic resilience while accelerating the country’s transformation into a developed economy, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.

Alignment with OECD standards is expected to improve the quality of Indonesia’s policies and regulations by bringing them closer to international best practices, thereby enhancing competitiveness, global credibility, and investor confidence. The effort is also expected to attract higher-quality investment, deepen trade ties, expand market access, and strengthen technological collaboration.

“OECD accession is a strategic effort to strengthen institutions and achieve inclusive and sustainable prosperity, in line with the national development agenda to accelerate reforms in the economic, governance, and social sectors, while improving the quality of life of all Indonesians,” Airlangga said at the National Seminar on Indonesia OECD Accession & Private Sector Implications in Jakarta.

Indonesia’s accession process has made significant progress. After submitting its Initial Memorandum, the country has now entered the technical review phase -- an intensive stage requiring strong coordination across ministries and government agencies, evidence-based responses, and the ability to translate OECD standards into practical reforms tailored to domestic conditions.

The next stage will involve deeper assessments of Indonesia’s alignment with OECD standards, including participation from the private sector through fact-finding missions and targeted consultations to support priority reforms.

Airlangga said Indonesia’s OECD accession drive is a national effort requiring close collaboration between the public and private sectors, given the broad policy scope and its direct implications for the business environment. The government will continue promoting initiatives to improve understanding, strengthen coordination, and encourage collaboration among stakeholders.

The government is also working with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the private sector's representative, to ensure business perspectives are reflected throughout the accession process. Private-sector involvement is seen as key to aligning reform priorities and ensuring resulting policies are practical and implementable.

Airlangga also expressed appreciation for support from the United Kingdom through its Growth Gateway program, including capacity-building for the public sector and stronger private-sector engagement.

Global Uncertainty
He said rising global uncertainty -- marked by geopolitical tensions, disruptions to energy and food supply chains, and rapid digital transformation -- has created increasingly complex and unpredictable challenges for the global economy.

Indonesia, he said, has responded by strengthening energy resilience through diversified supply sources and reducing dependence on imports from specific regions. This includes expanding energy partnerships with countries such as Nigeria, Gabon, and other alternative suppliers to secure national energy needs.

“In a highly uncertain global environment, Indonesia must ensure national resilience through adaptive policies focused on long-term interests,” Airlangga said.

Indonesia is optimizing regional cooperation for refined fuel supplies while increasing domestic production capacity and accelerating biofuel adoption through higher mandatory biodiesel blending.

The government has also maintained price stability through its Domestic Market Obligation policy and a diversified energy mix, helping shield consumers from direct impacts of global commodity price swings.

Beyond energy, Indonesia is strengthening food and fertilizer security through controlled gas prices for fertilizer production and expanded domestic output. The country has recorded surpluses in certain fertilizer products and has begun fulfilling export demand from several countries.

Looking ahead, Indonesia is targeting faster growth to achieve high-income nation status by 2045. The strategy will be supported by stronger domestic consumption, improved human capital through education development and global collaboration, and the expansion of future-oriented sectors such as semiconductors and digital transformation.