Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn called on the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) President Zaw Min Win during his recent visit to the country.

(From L–R) APO Secretariat Administration and Finance Director Sherman Loo, APO Secretary-General Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, and UMFCCI President Zaw Min Win, Vice President Thaung Tin, Secretary-General Aung Kyi Soe, CEO Tint Swai, and Executive Officer May Toe Myat Htun.

President Zaw Min Win warmly welcomed Secretary-General Dr. Santhi and said that the UMFCCI agreed that a national-level approach was critical to the productivity movement in Myanmar. He appreciated Japanese government and ASEAN funding of a project to set up a national productivity organization (NPO) through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund. He also highlighted the critical role of the Japan Productivity Center (JPC) in implementing the project and dispatching several experts for extended periods to Myanmar in the last three years.

Secretary-General Dr. Santhi outlined the APO’s latest initiatives such as the Specific National Program designed to meet the needs and expectations of individual APO members. He suggested the need for a master plan to sustain Myanmar’s productivity movement, citing the recent successful draft plan developed for Cambodia.

The Secretary-General also attended the Roundtable Meeting for the Establishment of the Myanmar Productivity Center as an observer, which was hosted by the JPC on 23 February. Senior representatives from the Myanmarese government, UMFCCI, and NPO Heads/representatives of the APO shared their insights on the roles and challenges of NPOs in their countries.