Minister Bar-On: Israel to complete OECD joining process by end of 2009

Bar-On met with the heads of the OECD membership steering committee and received a briefing on the progress to date in the membership process
 
Minister of Finance Bar-On predicted last week that Israel would complete the requirements for joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by the end of 2009.
 
On May 12, Bar-On met with the heads of the OECD membership steering committee and the professional teams working on Israel's candidacy. Bar-On received a briefing on the progress to date in the membership process and on the teams' work with the various OECD committees.
 
The steering committee has completed the initial membership procedures as set out by the OECD.
 
The Paris-based organization, which has 30 members, approved last December negotiating frameworks that will govern how soon Israel, Chile, Estonia, Russia and Slovenia can join. Entry can only be secured after the group's members are satisfied that a candidate fulfills the requirements.