OECD candidate will target fat cats for cash

Billionaires will be hit up for funds to back OECD projects if Angel Gurria, the Mexican aspirant for the secretary general's job, has his way.

Gurria, one of two main candidates for the top role, has suggested he could become "chief fundraiser" for the 30-strong organisation, which is also known as the "rich man's club".

He points to the United Nations, which has outside backing from US billionaires such as media mogul Ted Turner (of US$1 billion) and Microsoft's Bill Gates.

"Imagine if we had got to Ted Turner about three months before Kofi Annan ... we would have got a good chunk of money for the OECD."

Gurria raised eyebrows when he put the proposal forward during OECD council discussions on his candidacy.

"One ambassador said, 'Mr Gurria, you have to explain what you mean about this fund-raising thing because I would not like to see that next year this report on my country says it was prepared by the OECD and sponsored by Coca Cola and IBM ... '

"But some outright wealthy individuals are willing to support good efforts as long as they understand what it is that you are doing, why you are doing it and what you are going to use the project for.

"It would only be an issue if the donors tried to influence subject matter or conclusions - and in any case would have to be pre-approved by council."

The controversial high-flier - who is attempting to sweet-talk New Zealand into supporting his bid - used his charm on Prime Minister Helen Clark at a working session in Wellington on Friday, the latest stop on a worldwide lobbying tour.

Gurria talked up New Zealand's role as a prominent "free trader" which has always been "number one for open trade but also for a level playing field".

Gurria earlier told the Herald that New Zealand supported him in the first round - "now it starts all over again". But Clark would not disclose whether Gurria could count on New Zealand's support for the next round, or whether New Zealand would swing its support behind outgoing Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka, the other major candidate.

But she did find him "impressive".

The former Mexican foreign affairs and finance minister has long been at the forefront of a drive to widen the OECD's influence, either through outright enlargement of its 30-strong membership, or by forging stronger relationships with dialogue partners like China and India which are, so far, excluded from membership.

He instituted the dialogue process during his own period as chairman of the OECD ministerial meeting in 1999.

"I invited for the first time Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa and Nigeria ... they've been invited ever since. So if you ask what I think about it I made that point about six years ago."

The global power balance has since shifted, but it is by no means a given that the 30 OECD countries will necessarily make way for the Asian powerhouses, old Eastern bloc countries or even Brazil to get inside the tent.

Gurria stresses it is the members' prerogative to decide whether to press ahead with enlargement.

"If you are going to invite more people to the family you need to know the rules for living in the family."

Gurria maintains these other nations cannot be ignored even if the OECD members refuse membership.

"In this world of investment flows, they are just too big."