Thai delegates with APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata and Secretariat officers.

Twenty-four delegates from the Thailand Ministry of Finance Budget Bureau and two staff from the Thailand Productivity Institute (FTPI) visited the APO Secretariat on 12 September. The delegation was in Tokyo as part of a study mission to develop internal audits to improve organizational management.

APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata warmly welcomed the delegates to the Secretariat while appreciating the strong relationship with the FTPI. He also hoped that the Budget Bureau could leverage the services and activities of the APO.

Mission Leader Director Nuntaporn Aungatichart, from the Organizational Development Strategy and Research unit, FTPI, delivered remarks on behalf of the delegation and expressed gratitude to Secretary-General Dr. Indra and the Secretariat for hosting the meeting. She highlighted that the Budget Bureau was a key entity in securing the budget for APO membership and activities.

The APO Secretariat gave a presentation with an organizational overview; introduction to the APO Productivity Readiness Index (PRI), a publication partnered with researchers from the Australian National University, and Thailand’s PRI performance; theory and concepts of public-sector productivity and the APO Public-sector Productivity Framework; and a summary of Japan’s productivity performance, challenges, and strategies. Information on APO research projects with national experts from Thailand was also shared with the delegation.

The presentations were followed by a lively question-and-answer session on APO research projects. The Secretariat showcased research with contributions from national experts in Thailand, among other significant initiatives.

On behalf of the delegation, Senior Budget Advisor Petcharat Serephanpanich of the Budget Bureau expressed her appreciation to Secretary-General Dr. Indra and the APO Secretariat for hosting the informative session.