• India has formally assumed the chairmanship of the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) for the 2025-26 term during a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.

• As Chair of the APO, India reiterated its commitment to advancing the APO Vision 2030 and expanding the Green Productivity 2.0 framework. 

• India emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in driving digital transformation, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. 

• It also expressed its intent to contribute to inclusive, responsive, and results-driven APO programs that address evolving productivity and development challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Each year, over 100 Indian professionals participate in APO-led capacity-building initiatives through the National Productivity Council (NPC) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). These programmes contribute significantly to productivity improvements in India's industrial, services, and agricultural sectors. 

• Several demonstration projects, including those focused on Green Productivity and Industry 4.0 applications for MSMEs, have also been implemented across the country.

Asian Productivity Organisation (APO)

• The Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) is an intergovernmental regional organisation established in 1961  with its headquarters in Tokyo. 

• It is a non-political, non-profit making, and non-discriminatory organisation.

• The objective of the organisation is to increase productivity and thereby accelerate economic development in Asia through mutual cooperation among member countries. 

• To fulfil its objective, the organisation institutes programmes for the development of productivity, provides information and advice for productivity improvement, and promotes and disseminates modern productivity skills and techniques in the agriculture, industry, and service sectors.

• The membership is open to all Asian and Pacific governments that are members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

• APO comprises 21 members including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkiye, and Vietnam. 

• The organisation performs activities in cooperation with national productivity organisations (NPOs) and other international organisations. 

• NPOs in member countries that deal with productivity activities at the national level act as implementing agencies for the organisation’s projects and nominate participants from their countries to attend those projects.

• The budget of the organisation is composed of the budget covering the programme of action of the organisation and staff, administrative, and non-project expenses. 

• The governing body, which is the highest decision-making authority, meets once a year to decide on policy matters concerning program and budget, finances, and membership. 

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