Country programmes

Specific country programmes are designed to strengthen co-operation between OECD and influential non-members of particular interest to the Organisation. Co-operation is characterised by a two-way exchange during which various OECD Directorates carry out specific policy dialogue activities with their counterparts in the government of the country concerned. Non-members may also be actively involved in core OECD work and processes through participation as regular observers or full participants in Global Forums, OECD Committees and Working Groups. Economic Surveys conducted by the OECD Economics Department and discussed in the Economic and Development Review Committee have an important place within the OECD country programmes.

Three country-specific programmes are currently in place: Brazil, China and Russia. The OECD also carries out specific country-targeted activities, as for example with Chile, India or South Africa.

  Brazil

As one of the largest economies outside the OECD area, Brazil is an important player in the world economy. The OECD Council launched a country-specific programme for Brazil in 1998. Despite the relatively modest financial resources of the Brazil country-programme, Brazil has become a strong and very pro-active partner of the OECD. Participating since 1998 in all meetings at Ministerial level, Brazil has also multiplied its formal participation in OECD bodies (ex.: Committees on Agriculture, Investment, Competition, Trade, Public Management, Governing Board of the Development Centre) and OECD instruments (ex.: Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, Convention on Combating Bribery, Council Recommendation concerning Hard-Core Cartels). Brazil’s strong commitment to OECD work is not only expressed through the high performance of Brazilian Delegates in various OECD Committees and Working Groups but also through its willingness to support OECD’s regionally-focused activities in Latin America. Most recently, the Brazilian government established an Inter-ministerial Working Group for OECD Affairs in Brasilia. > more

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  China

In 1995, the OECD launched a specific programme of dialogue and co-operation with China, reflecting the common interest of both sides in China’s stable and effective integration into the world economic system. Since then, the OECD has contributed to policy reform in China by sharing its member countries’ experiences in a range of areas, from competition policy and financial sector reform to environmental policy instruments and regulatory reform. The OECD has come to be seen a natural partner of China’s policy makers on the road towards building a modern market based economy more closely integrated in the global economic system. The OECD is seeking to increase the impact of its work by providing free access to key messages of OECD publications on China in English and Chinese. The OECD member countries’ embassies in Beijing also actively contribute to the building of a local network strengthening OECD’s relations with China. > more

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  Russia

The OECD has been co-operating with the Russian Federation since 1992, establishing a unique relationship with the country in several ways. The Russia programme covers an extensive range of market-reform activities. Besides six Economic Surveys, the OECD has undertaken reviews of Russia’s policies in the fields of regulatory reform, education, environment, investment, innovation, social policy, science and technology and corporate governance. The OECD Council has established a Russia/OECD Liaison Committee to facilitate dialogue between the Russian Federation and the OECD, to discuss economic reform progress in Russia and its co-operation with OECD members. The Russian Federation participates in the work of 18 OECD Committees and many Working Groups. The co-operation with OECD is co-ordinated in Russia by an Inter-Agency Commission chaired by the Prime Minister.> more

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