Estonia recovered forcefully from the global economic crisis but growth has since slowed, highlighting the need for further reforms that reduce exposure to external shocks and ensure against future boom/bust cycles, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Estonia.

Pakistan has joined the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. As the 111th member of the Global Forum, it will participate in the peer review process which encourages all countries to adopt effective exchange of information in tax matters.

Internet firms continue to drive growth and job creation in the IT industry, with fast-rising demand for mobile services helping to boost revenue and investment in research and development, according to a new OECD report.

Governments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) should create urgently needed jobs for the 2.5 million people entering the labour market each year and improve their policies to encourage women’s entrepreneurship in order to reduce structural unemployment, says a new OECD report.

Indonesia can improve national food security by facilitating greater investment in agriculture, opening agri-food markets to greater international trade, reforming input subsidies and food aid schemes and moving away from self-sufficiency policy objectives, according to a new OECD report.

Assessing the progress and failings of our societies requires a far broader set of measures than just economic indicators. This is why international experts, NGO representatives and politicians in fields as diverse as the environment, development, health, education, business and social affairs will be meeting in New Delhi from 16-19 October 2012.

Israel has world class-primary care services and should now focus efforts on bringing its hospitals up to the same high international standards, according to the OECD’s Health Care Quality Review of Israel.

The OECD will host a news conference to launch its new global portal on product recalls during the International Product Safety Week 2012 at 11.00 AM on Friday 19 October at the Charlemagne Building, rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels.

Burkina Faso and Cameroon have joined the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. As 112th and 113th members of the Global Forum they will participate in the peer review process which encourages all countries to adopt effective exchange of information in tax matters.

On October 18, Mexican President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto ended his European tour with a visit to OECD headquarters in Paris where he delivered a keynote address on Mexico’s challenges and its role in a changing global landscape, followed by a press conference with the Secretary-General.