(L-R) Dr. Choi, Dr. Yoon, Secretary-General Takenaka

APO Secretary-General Shigeo Takenaka paid an official visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK), 18–19 June. He made a courtesy call on Chairman and CEO of the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) Dr. Dong Kyu Choi, who is also APO Director for the ROK, on 18 June to discuss current activities and issues of the APO. In the evening, he hosted a farewell dinner for the participants in the multicountry observational study mission on Waste Management in the Agroprocessing Industry held in Seoul 16–19 June. Secretary-General Takenaka also visited Economy Adviser to the President Dr. Jin-Shik Yoon on 19 June, accompanied by Dr. Choi. In Dr. Yoon’s office in the Blue House, Office of the President of the ROK, Secretary-General Takenaka introduced the APO and its activities and sought the continued support of the Korean government for the organization. Dr. Yoon expressed interest in the APO’s Green Productivity concept as well as the productivity databook project. He also acknowledged the importance of raising awareness of the APO nationwide.

Secretary-General Takenaka (L) with Dr. Choi (R) at KPC

Dr. Yoon receiving the APO Productivity Databook 2009