Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Santhi Kanoktanaporn recently visited Indonesia and the Philippines to gain a better understanding of their productivity challenges. The visit was also aimed at determining how the APO could support the Directorate General of Training and Productivity Development under the Ministry of Manpower of Indonesia and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in their efforts to improve productivity in the era of Industry 4.0.

During his visit to Jakarta, 19 June, Dr. Santhi met Director General, Training and Productivity, and APO Director for Indonesia Bambang Satrio Lelono as well as Ministry of Manpower Secretary Kunjung Masehat, who also serves as APO Alternate Director for Indonesia. Dr. Santhi also paid a courtesy call on Minister of Manpower H.E. M. Hanif Dhakiri on the day.

(L–R) APO Director for Indonesia Bambang Satrio Lelono, Minister of Manpower H.E. M. Hanif Dhakiri, and APO Secretary-General Santhi Kanoktanaporn

On 21–24 June, in Manila, the Secretary-General held meetings with National Economic and Development Authority Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning and APO Director for the Philippines Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos; DAP President and APO Alternate Director for the Philippines Dr. Elba S. Cruz; Master in National Security Administration Chief Information Officer and DAP Managing Director, Mindanao Office, Dominique C. Laconico; and DAP Consultant and President, Packaging Institute of the Philippines, Dr. Joseph Ross Jocson, among others.

(L–R) APO Alternate Director for the Philippines Dr. Elba S. Cruz, APO Director for the Philippines Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, and APO Secretary-General Santhi Kanoktanaporn.