Overview

The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) was established on 11 May 1961 as a regional intergovernmental organization.The APO is nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory.

Mission

To contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of Asia and the Pacific through enhancing productivity.

Vision

To be the leading international organization on productivity enhancement, enabling APO economies to be more productive and competitive by 2020.

Strategic Directions

The APO has three strategic directions:

  1. Strengthen NPOs and promote the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and communities. NPOs are the backbone of the APO and thus need to be strengthened to lead national productivity initiatives. SMEs play a crucial role in the economies of members. The APO aims to improve the productivity of targeted segments of SMEs and communities.
  2. Catalyze innovation-led productivity growth. Productivity improvement is not limited only to increased efficiency. It also includes innovation-led gains that increase the quality and performance of products and services.
  3. Promoting Green Productivity. The APO will work with member countries to promote green technologies and create demand for green products and services. In addition, special effort will be directed to promoting sustainable practices in the agriculture sector.

Key Roles

In serving its members, the APO performs five key roles: Think Tank, Catalyst, Regional Adviser, Institution Builder, and Clearinghouse for Productivity Information.

  1. As a think tank, the APO conducts research on emerging needs of members for their follow-up and for determining appropriate assistance to them.
  2. As a catalyst, the APO promotes bilateral and multilateral alliances among members and between them and others outside the APO region for collaboration in productivity-related activities for mutual benefit.
  3. As a regional adviser, the APO surveys the economic and development policies and performance of each member and assists in formulating strategic changes for enhanced productivity and competitiveness.
  4. As an institution builder, the APO strengthens the capability of the National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) and other institutions to provide productivity promotion, training, and consultancy services to the public and private sectors.
  5. As a clearinghouse for productivity information, the APO facilitates the dissemination and exchange of information on productivity among its members and other stakeholders.