Colombia to attend key international economic summit

Mauricio Cárdenas (Photo: La Patria)

Colombia’s Finance Minister will attend the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) summit on Monday in an attempt to secure Colombia’s place as a member country, the ministry announced.

Colombia’s Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas will attend a summit of the international forum taking place in France to discuss global economic development and take the country one step closer to joining the organisation.

In 2012, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos expressed Colombia’s willingness to join the organization and in 2013 the OECD decided to open membership talks.

MORE: OECD invites Colombia to begin membership talks

“At this same meeting last year the OECD Council of Ministers decided to invite Colombia to access the procedures of the organization. This year we will be sitting at the table with all countries that are members and discussing the great problems of the world economy and designing coordinated solutions. This is a big step for Colombia,” confirmed Cardenas in a statement.

The public official added that “This meeting is the stage at which the most important decisions are made. This is our opportunity to show how much we have to bring to the organization, based on our success in economic matters.”

Founded in 1961, the OECD is an international economic organisation of 34 countries working to stimulate economic progress and international trade. The member countries meet to discuss issues such as domestic and international economic policy.

MORE: Colombia takes step towards joining OECD

The meeting of the organization is to be held in Paris, France from May 5 to May 7.

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