South African membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 730

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 OF 8 OCTOBER 2004

MS R TALJAARD (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

Whether South Africa will seek membership and/or observer status in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? N1078E

REPLY:

An interdepartmental working group, reporting to the IRPS Economic Development Committee, has been engaged in extensive consultations on all aspects of South Africa's current and future relations with the OECD in Paris.

The consultations have concluded that, though South Africa should not consider full membership of the organisation at this stage, increased co-operation with the individual OECD Committees would be of great technical benefit. South Africa already enjoys Official Observer Status in the respective Committees for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP) and that for Fiscal Affairs (CFA). Owing to the nature of the organisation's work, it is not possible for a country to become an overall observer to the OECD. However, national Departments would be encouraged to actively explore the work of and pursue application for Official Observer Status in those individual OECD Committees relevant to their portfolios as the access to and participation in a wide range of these technical committees would significantly hone South African skills and knowledge.