site.btaOECD Membership to Give Bulgaria Voice in Shaping Global Debate - OECD Senior Legal Advisor Robertson

Bulgaria's membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will ensure the possibility that Bulgaria has a voice in the shaping of the global debate beyond Europe, said Gandia Robertson, Head of the Accession Coordination Unit and Senior Legal Advisor at OECD. She joined online Thursday's public discussion in Sofia on Bulgaria's OECD membership as a factor for investment and economic growth. 

The event was organised by the Diplomatic Institute with the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Robertson said that the OECD membership could a lever for more investment in Bulgaria and higher economic growth. She gave an example that joining the organisation opens up the Bulgarian market to investors from OECD member countries and vice versa – the markets of these countries become open to Bulgarian investors.

OECD practices help to level the playing field globally by providing a comprehensive standard for responsible business conduct, she explained.

According to Robertson, joining the OECD is an important journey, but it is not the end of the process; on the contrary, it is only the beginning. She underscored that by joining OECD, Bulgaria will be able to continue benefiting from the organisation's expertise in order to further improve the quality of public administration and reforms.

Membership brings reputational benefits for Bulgaria and strengthens investor confidence, as it is an indicator that the country is committed to the highest standards of democracy and sustainable economic growth, she said. According to her, Bulgaria's membership would be a guarantee for investors that the country follows OECD standards.

The deeper the country's integration into the organisation's processes, the greater the benefits for everyone – from government to citizens, business and society as a whole, Robertson said.