The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) convened the 67th Session of the Governing Body (GBM), 20–22 May 2025 in Jakarta, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. This annual session brought together over 50 delegates representing APO member governments to discuss the APO’s strategic direction and ensure the organization’s continued credibility, effectiveness, and relevance amid a rapidly evolving productivity landscape.
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Heads of delegations and the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia (center, seated) at the 67th GBM.
The 67th GBM saw numerous important leadership transitions. APO Director for India Amardeep Singh Bhatia took on the position of APO Chair for 2025–26, taking over from APO Director for Fiji Jone Maritino Nemani. APO Director for Indonesia Agung Nur Rohmad and APO Director for the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Mohammad Saleh Owlia were also appointed as First and Second Vice Chairs, respectively.
The Governing Body expressed its continued confidence in the forward-looking leadership of incumbent Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata, nominated by the Government of Indonesia, by electing him for a second term as Secretary-General from September 2025 to September 2028.
In his opening statement, APO Chair Bhatia emphasized India’s commitment to the APO’s vision of inclusive, innovation-led, sustainable productivity growth in the Asia-Pacific region as a founding member of the APO. He also reaffirmed India’s dedication to enhancing the institutional efficiency and strategic alignment of the APO through its chairmanship and praised the significant progress made on the development of the Green Productivity (GP) 2.0 ecosystem.
The inaugural session of the GBM was graced by H.E. Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Professor Yassierli. In his inaugural speech, Minister Professor Yassierli underscored the urgency of responding collectively to a rapidly changing global landscape marked by economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and mounting sustainability pressures. Under such conditions, productivity should not be treated as competition among nations but rather as a shared journey rooted in mutual respect, shared knowledge, and solidarity. Professor Yassierli noted the APO’s crucial role in facilitating solidarity among its members by serving as a platform for practical cooperation through locally relevant and globally informed solutions such as GP.
The 67th GBM featured in-depth deliberations on several strategic priorities to guide the APO’s trajectory in the coming years. Central among these were the deliberations on the APO post-2025 vision framework, which will set the foundation for the APO’s activities beyond 2025. The development of the GP 2.0 ecosystem was also discussed, and the Governing Body welcomed the recommendations from the Green Productivity Advisory Council Annual Meeting, which convened in Osaka, Japan, from 14 to 15 April 2025.
Other key topics included the proposed revisions to the membership contribution formula based on the task force’s recommendations to ensure fairness and sustainability in APO financing. Strategies to strengthen the Secretariat’s digital capabilities through improved systems and expanded access to APO services were also discussed. The GBM also reviewed the progress made in implementing remediation actions based on the independent third-party assessment, reaffirming the APO’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and institutional effectiveness. Additional milestones were the accreditation of the Development Academy of the Philippines Certification Body to operate the Productivity Specialist scheme and the expansion of Indonesia’s national certification body scope. The GBM also welcomed observers from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, signaling the APO’s growing engagement with nonmembers and international organizations operating in the Asia-Pacific region.
The highly successful 67th GBM was concluded on a celebratory note as the Governing Body warmly welcomed APO Chair Bhatia’s announcement of India’s readiness to host the 68th GBM in 2026.
About the APO
The APO is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to improving productivity and socioeconomic development in the Asia-Pacific region through policy advisory services, capacity-building initiatives, knowledge sharing, and cooperation. It is nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory.
Established in 1961 with eight founding members, the APO currently comprises 21 member economies.
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The Asian Productivity Organization (APO)
Contact: [email protected].
Website: https://www.apo-tokyo.org.
