Angel Gurría: The OECD & G20 - Events - IIEA - The Institute of International and European Affairs

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About this Event

04 Nov 2009 @ 8:30

The OECD and the G20 – An Evolving Relationship

Audio Podcast:
Download Mr Gurría's keynote speech here.

About the Speech:

At this breakfast presentation at the IIEA, Angel Gurría discussed the evolving relationship between the OECD and the G20 and the implications, both for his organisation and for the global economic system, of decisions taken at the G20's Pittsburgh Summit in September 2009.

Secretary General Gurría noted that the G20 is fast becoming the centrepiece of today’s international economic, social and environmental governance architecture. He also described how the OECD has been supporting the forum since its inception, listing recent substantive contributions including work on new sources of growth; the human and social dimension of the economic crisis; innovation; open markets for trade and investment; the removal of energy subsidies; anti-bribery and the exchange of information for tax purposes. In addition, he told his audience that the OECD has made several concrete proposals to the G20 relating to the Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth unveiled at the Pittsburgh Summit. One such proposal is the establishment of an “Observatory for Policy Coherence” that would ensure that key international organisations provide the best possible joint input to G20 processes.

As the G20 nears its ten year anniversary in December 2009 and the OECD approaches its fiftieth anniversary in 2011, this was an excellent opportunity to hear from Mr Gurría how the system of global governance has evolved, and to hear his vision for its future.

Secretary General Gurría's prepared remarks for this speech are available here.

About the Speaker:

As OECD Secretary-General since June 2006, Mr Gurría has reinforced the organisation's role as a hub for global dialogue and debate on economic policy issues while pursuing internal modernization and reform. He is an active participant in various international not-for-profit bodies, including the Population Council and the Center for Global Development. He chaired the International Task Force on Financing Water for All and continues to be deeply involved in water issues.

Angel Gurría served as Mexico’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from December 1994 to January 1998 and as Mexico’s Minister of Finance and Public Credit from January 1998 to December 2000.

While in Dublin, Secretary-General Gurría launched the OECD's Economic Survey of Ireland and presented the conclusions and recommendations of the Environmental Performance review of Ireland, to be published early in 2010. He also met several ministers to discuss key policy issues.

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