Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...

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5.2.8 OECD in the World and its enlargement
OECD has 34 member states and four centers in Germany, Japan, Mexico and United States. For
the last few years the OECD has embarked on extension process of OECD circle by establishing
working relations with stable and emerging economies of the world. The process of OECD
enlargement is complex and long as non-countries cannot get accession to the Organization
directly but as they have to enter into the enhanced engagement first for some period that can
later on lead to membership. The accession procedure also involves a series of examinations to
assess and evaluate candidate country‟s ability to meet OECD standards in a wide range of
policy areas.
In 2007 the OECD Council at Ministerial level adopted a resolution to strengthen the co-
operation with selected countries of the world they agreed enlarge OECD by inviting Chile,
Estonia, Israel, Russia and Slovenia for membership. These countries except Russia became
OECD members in 2010. The council also offered Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South
Africa OECD cooperation with enhanced engagement in the same meeting. This resolution was
adopted in the light of articles 1, 2, 5, 12 and 16 of OECD convention and its 14 December 1960
developments and reports C(2004)60, C/M(2006)9, and C(2007)42 & CORR1 & 2. The council
also passed a resolution, which gave an indication of further expansion of OECD umbrella over
Asia. According to this resolution “Council Invites the Secretary-General to explore and develop
recommendations to Council on how to expand the OECD‟s relations,… and the priority will be
given to South East Asia with a view to identifying countries for possible membership”. The
OECD‟s Centre for Co-operation with Non-Members acts as a linking line between the
Organization and non-member economies. This centre also develops, directs and supervises the
strategic orientation of relationship with non-member countries.
5.2.9 OECD in Asia
Soon after its birth the OCED increased its presence in Asia by giving an entry to Japan in the
Organization in 1964, whereas Turkey was already a member of this organization. Though
OECD like OEEC is not purely European or regional organization, until 1995 it did not give
membership to any Asian country. In 1996 Korea and in 2010 Israel became its members. OECD
further increased its presence and visibility in Asia by giving Enhanced Engagement status to
three Asian countries namely China, India and Indonesia. Today after 50 years of its creation the
members table shows that still OECD has very low presence and visibility in this continent with