The OECD at 50
A message from
Hillary Rodham Clinton United States Secretary of State, Chair of the OECD’s 2011 Ministerial Council Meeting
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he United States is honoured to chair the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s 2011 Ministerial Council Meeting and celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the world’s most successful post-war institutions. The United States was a driving force behind the establishment of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. When we ratified the OECD Convention in 1961, President Kennedy expected that it would “become one of the principal institutions through which we pursue the great aim of consolidating the Atlantic Community”. Over the years, the OECD has far exceeded these expectations and become a global institution with members and partners all over the world. The OECD’s initial objectives – to boost employment, raise living standards, maintain financial stability and promote economic development – have withstood the test of time. Today, the OECD’s world-class statistical and economic analysis helps guide policy makers around the world, and the OECD’s unique system of peer reviews and policy forums enables members to compare policy experiences and identify best practices. It is truly indispensible and allows us to have a conversation and find common ground to meet some of today’s most pressing issues. The United States values the important role that the OECD plays in helping create a level international playing field where businesses can flourish and economies can grow. The OECD’s new work on women’s economic empowerment will give countries the tools to increase economic opportunities for women and help remove obstacles to gender equality. And the OECD is innovating new ideas and programmes to generate jobs, grow economies and raise living standards. The global economic environment has changed dramatically since the creation of the OECD. New economic powers have emerged, and the recent economic crisis has underscored the interconnectedness and increased complexity of today’s world. Sustained global growth requires all countries to participate, including the developing world. But the OECD is an enduring institution, finding new ways to participate, new ways to collaborate, and new ways to expand opportunity. From our fellow charter members to the most recent entrants, we can look back on a half-century of achievement and look forward to another 50 years of partnerships and innovation that will help the OECD maintain its place as an effective, influential and essential international organisation.
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