Asian Productivity Organization Archives

September 16, 2022

TOKYO JAPAN – Media OutReach – 16 September 2022 – The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) announced that Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata had assumed the role of APO Secretary-General as of 16 September 2022.

Dr. Singawinata brings a wealth of experience from leadership positions in both the public and private sectors in Indonesia. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of the Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund (IIGF), a state-owned enterprise that provides guarantees for infrastructure projects implemented under a national public–private partnership scheme.

Prior to that, Dr. Singawinata was at the Putera Sampoerna Foundation (PSF), which he joined as Head of Research before becoming Head of Business Development and then Head of Corporate Affairs.

Dr. Singawinata earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Japan, following a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Indonesia and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Trisakti University, Indonesia.

Outlining the goals for his 2022–25 tenure as Secretary-General, Dr. Singawinata stated, “My mission is to reduce the productivity gap between APO member economies by strengthening APO programs and tools. Our vision must include capacity building and technical assistance for National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) in member countries through mixed programs, strengthening the use of digital technology in NPO programs, and identifying ‘quick-win’ opportunities in addition to mid-term programs.”

He emphasized three guiding principles for APO actions under his leadership to achieve its vision and mission: synergy; good corporate governance; and transparency. “I’m looking forward to building on over 60 years of history and past accomplishments of the APO to cement its position as the leading productivity organization not just in the Asia-Pacific region but in the world.”

June 11, 2021

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Puts Productivity in the Spotlight

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach – 11 June 2021 – The Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organization (APO) in partnership with the Japan Productivity Center held the International Conference on the Centrality of Productivity on 10 June 2021. The virtual conference celebrated the 60th anniversary of the APO and examined the importance of productivity as a driver of growth for nations, firms, and individuals amid new, demanding challenges including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leading experts on productivity, human resources, and technology spoke at the conference. Japan Productivity Center Chairman Yuzaburo Mogi, who is also Chairman and Honorary CEO of Kikkoman, remarked that, despite the turbulent situation, “Each one of us must develop our potential to the fullest to create value added and improve productivity.”

APO Secretary-General AKP Mochtan acknowledged that the challenges ahead are demanding, complex, and urgent. He introduced the Tokyo Statement on the Centrality of Productivity, a declaration encapsulating the resolve of APO member countries to continue promoting productivity.

Nobel Prize Winner in Economics (2008) Paul Krugman, in a recorded keynote address, expressed optimism for a brighter future despite the tragedies brought by the pandemic. He believed that “productive globalism” and well-intended public policies behind the development and distribution of vaccines indicated progress toward a better world.

Two panels of experts explored pressing issues affecting productivity. The first discussed imperatives for building a quality workforce, highlighting the need to shift toward performance-based, inclusive, diverse human capital. The second panel examined smart transformation by leveraging new drivers of productivity including digital technologies, AI, and big data. Digital Minister Audrey Tang shared experiences on how people–public–private partnerships had helped to counter the pandemic in the Republic of China. Japanese technopreneur Katsuya Uenoyama advocated an improved ecosystem that promotes coexistence between people and AI.

The conference closed with a call for renewed actions and courage in creating a more productive, sustainable, inclusive tomorrow.

June 9, 2021

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach – 9 June 2021 – As the economic and humanitarian crises in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic escalate to epic proportions and the world reels at the grim prospects of viral variants described as “far more deadly” by the WHO, the 21 countries that make up the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) offer a sliver of hope by declaring their resolve to continue the productivity movement, leveraging it to guide the region through new, harsh challenges in the years ahead.

Survival is paramount. Enterprises and SMEs must be resilient and the workforce adaptable to new workstyles and new types of business. Productivity is the foundation of this survival, not only for becoming more competitive but also in the broader, philosophical sense of “making tomorrow better than today.”

Drawing upon its 60 years of engagement in Asia and the Pacific, the APO crystallizes the key lessons of its six decades of journey in a joint statement, “The Tokyo Statement on the Centrality of Productivity.” Issued at the conclusion of its 63rd Governing Body Meeting on 9 June 2021, the statement serves as a beacon to traverse a turbulent future.

The statement outlines key priority targets of the APO for 2021–2025. Those targets support the APO Vision 2025 in striving for “inclusive, innovation-led productivity growth in Asia and the Pacific.”

The priority targets cover four broad areas. The first is leveraging new drivers of productivity. In today’s extraordinary circumstances, productivity improvement efforts must yield extraordinary results. New drivers that include innovation, advanced technologies, and digitalization are expected to lead to exponential productivity gains.

The second involves enhancing productivity tools, techniques, and methodologies. Upgrading and upskilling are imperative given ongoing rapid, dynamic changes. New business styles, new work styles, and new business platforms have become the norms. Productivity tools, techniques, and methodologies must therefore be continuously updated to support the latest trends.

Third is making productivity more inclusive. This means broadening the outreach and applications of productivity to embrace persons with different abilities, in addition to women, youth, and socially vulnerable groups.

The fourth priority is strengthening National Productivity Organizations as the premiere productivity-promoting institutions, equipping them to be policy partners for their governments.

The Tokyo Statement underlines a renewed commitment to the mutual cooperation that has been the hallmark of the APO. The full text is available at: www.apo-tokyo.org.

January 21, 2021

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach – 20 January 2021 – The Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organization (APO) commences its Diamond Jubilee through a virtual launch on 21 January 2021, 14:00 Japan Time.

The launch marks the beginning of a year-long tribute to the 60-year productivity journey in Asia, showcasing productivity as a key enabler for the Asia-Pacific region, past, present, and future.

Ministers/senior officials from Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Pakistan are to convey congratulatory messages during the ceremony. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh, Vietnam, and Chair of the APO, will salute the organization while emphasizing the power of digital technology and digital learning.

Remarks by Assistant Minister Atsushi Ueno, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the host country of the APO Secretariat, will acknowledge the APO as one of the strongest bonds between Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, describing that network among members as a “precious asset” for Japan.

The launch will also feature insights and reminiscences from seasoned productivity champions. Fiji’s Minister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Jone Usamate, who served for more than 10 years as the country’s leading productivity authority, will describe the tremendous impact of the APO, especially the concept of Green Productivity combining productivity enhancement with sustainability and resilience.

The launch will formally activate the APO Vision 2025, the aspirational strategic directions to achieve inclusive, innovation-led productivity growth over the next five years.

Reflecting on the occasion, APO Secretary-General AKP Mochtan conveys that longevity is a blessing, but the relevance and achievements so far are not to be taken for granted. He is confident that the long history accords the APO the wisdom and foresights to forge ahead to a more productive future.

Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata becomes 13th Secretary-General of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO)

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Puts Productivity in the Spotlight

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Puts Productivity in the Spotlight

Asian Productivity Organization: Tokyo Statement on the Centrality of Productivity

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Commences Productivity Diamond Jubilee Launching Ceremony