Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Tuesday he is optimistic his country will be accepted into the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by Thursday.
“I have faith that we are going to be accepted. This is a very important step for Colombia’s transformation into a thriving country at the forefront of the world,” said Santos.
The president explained that although he is positive about Colombia’s fate, the are still some “difficulties” surrounding the ongoing discussions at the OECD headquarters in Paris, France.
“In Paris in the next 48 hours, what we have been fighting for since the first day of government – entry into the OECD – may be established. There are still some discussions, some problems and some difficulties, but they will tell us in the next 48 hours,” clarified Santos.
The head of state emphasized that the OECD is not simply “a club for rich countries,” but an organization for nations with good economic practices. He added that while Colombia is not the wealthiest nation, it has a number of other valuable strengths.
“We are not a rich country, [but] we are a country rich in human capital, rich in hope,” said the president adding, “We are aspiring to be a developed country.”
“This is what we want to be. We want to behave like a developed country, a responsible country and a country with the best practices,” the president said.
The OECD consists of 34 countries. So far, Mexico, Chile and Brazil are the only Latin American members.