The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) hosted a delegation from the Africa Kaizen Initiative (AKI) under the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), alongside representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Productivity Center (JPC), for a productive knowledge-sharing session on 30 January 2025 in the APO Secretariat.

The visit focused on the APO’s Centers of Excellence (COE) Program, showcasing initiatives in Green Productivity, smart manufacturing, IT for Industry 4.0, public sector productivity, and climate-smart agriculture. APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata highlighted the organization’s commitment to fostering global collaboration and supporting African nations through partnerships with JICA and the JPC.

Delegates from Mauritius, South Africa, Tunisia, and Ethiopia introduced the activities implemented for the design of AKI’s COE program. This was followed by presentations from APO experts and Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization: the host of the COE on Climate-smart Agriculture. The visit also included talks on future collaboration through the APO’s assistance with AKI’s COE program development.

The event reinforced the APO’s role in driving international cooperation for sustainable productivity growth.

Delegates from the AUDA-NEPAD with APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata and Secretariat officers