概要報告
On June 18, 2024, Dean Daiji Kawaguchi had a fruitful conversation with Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata, Secretary-General of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), at its headquarters in Tokyo. Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2019, GraSPP and APO have pursued to promote strategic collaboration for knowledge sharing, joint research, and capacity development activities, aiming to support Asian economies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). APO hosted five graduate students from GraSPP under its internship program over the past five years.
During the meeting, Dean Kawaguchi and Secretary-General Indra discussed key considerations for developing joint research and capacity-building programs for government officials in APO members. Secretary-General Indra emphasized the critical need for policy research and technical advisory assistance from academia, particularly in light of the recent regulatory reforms within APO economies. In response, Dean Kawaguchi shared insights into GraSPP’s recent research on technological advances and their impact on labor productivity, highlighting case studies involving AI, robotics, and space policies in Japan. Secretary-General Indra requested knowledge sharing from GraSPP with APO Secretariat staff to enhance understanding of the links between digitalization and labor productivity. Dean Kawaguchi and Secretary-General Indra reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing communication and exploring further collaboration opportunities.
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO)
The APO is an intergovernmental organization established in 1961 to increase productivity in the Asia-Pacific region through mutual cooperation. The APO contributes to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the region through policy advisory services, acting as a think tank, and undertaking smart initiatives in the industry, agriculture, service, and public sectors.
The APO is shaping the region’s future by assisting member economies in formulating national strategies for enhanced productivity through a range of institutional capacity-building efforts, including research and centers of excellence in members. It is nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory.
The current membership comprises 21 economies: Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Republic of China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkiye, and Vietnam.