(Washington D.C. – February 4th, 2010) OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría today paid tribute to President Ronald Reagan for his support and leadership of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a product of United States vision and ingenuity after the Second World War. “President Reagan recognized the OECD as a key institution to promote democratic values and economic freedom“, Gurría said on the occasion of Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday.

President Reagan called the OECD a “pillar of the free world’s economy”. As President he turned to the OECD to strengthen the international investment regime and to promote cross border investment. Under his presidency the United States negotiated numerous bilateral tax treaties based on the OECD Model Tax Convention.

His administration was also a key driver behind the OECD’s work to compare and benchmark education internationally. During Reagan’s second term and at the request of the US Government, the OECD started its program on education statistics and set the basis for its Program on International Student Assessment (PISA), which is today viewed as the most comprehensive international test for student performance and a major source of inspiration for education policy in the US and globally.

About the OECD

The 34-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) brings together the governments of countries around the world committed to democracy and a free market economy. It promotes sustainable economic growth, employment, higher living standards, financial stability, global economic development and growth in world trade. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the OECD provides a forum for governments to pursue best practices through in-depth comparative policy analysis and to coordinate domestic and international policies. It is committed to “Better Policies for Better Lives”.