In News:

India has officially taken over the Chairmanship of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) for the 2025–26 term during the 67th Governing Body Meeting.

About APO:

• Type: Regional intergovernmental organization.
• Established:1961.
• Headquarters:Tokyo, Japan.
• Membership: 21 member economies from the Asia-Pacific region, including India, Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, and others.
• India:Founding member of the APO.

Key Objectives:

• Enhance productivity in member countries through mutual cooperation.
• Foster sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development.
• Promote innovation-led growth across industry, agriculture, services, and public sectors.

Core Functions:

• Policy Advisory:Assists governments in designing national productivity strategies.
• Capacity Building:Conducts training programs, workshops, and research initiatives to boost productivity skills.
• Centres of Excellence:Facilitates innovation and best practices sharing among members.
• Green Productivity:Promotes environmentally sustainable growth models.
• Digital & Innovation Ecosystem:Encourages digital transformation and entrepreneurship through regional collaboration.

Organizational Structure:

• Governing Body:The apex decision-making entity; sets strategic direction and reviews performance annually.
• National Productivity Organizations (NPOs):Act as nodal agencies coordinating with the APO at the national level.
• Secretariat:Based in Tokyo, headed by a Secretary-General, manages daily operations.

Significance for India:

• India’s chairmanship marks a step forward in shaping regional productivity policies and highlights India’s commitment to sustainable development and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.