Paris, 15 February 2024: ERIA’s President, Tetsuya Watanabe, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, at the OECD Headquarters in Paris on Thursday. Secretary-General Cormann expressed his pleasure at seeing President Watanabe again after the G-7 Trade Ministers Meeting in Osaka last year. He also expressed his eagerness to further promote cooperation with ERIA, recognising ERIA’s extensive experience and significance in the Southeast Asia and East Asia region.

Both President Watanabe and Secretary-General Cormann emphasised that the cooperation between the OECD and ERIA is crucial in advancing economic policy in the region and beyond. Discussions also centred on the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with both parties exchanging perspectives and exploring avenues to further enhance cooperation.