India has officially taken over the Chairmanship of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) for the 2025–26 term during the 67th Governing Body Meeting held from May 20 to 22 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Leading the Indian delegation, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and APO Director for India, reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to the APO’s Vision 2030 and its Green Productivity 2.0 initiative.
As Chair, India emphasized the need for regional cooperation to advance digital transformation, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship across the Asia-Pacific region. The country highlighted its intent to foster inclusive and results-oriented programs addressing the evolving productivity and development challenges faced by member economies.
India’s involvement with the APO has been long-standing, with more than 100 Indian professionals participating annually in capacity-building programs conducted by the National Productivity Council (NPC) under DPIIT. These initiatives have played a significant role in improving productivity in India’s industrial, service, and agricultural sectors. Additionally, India has implemented various demonstration projects, including those focusing on Green Productivity and Industry 4.0 applications, especially benefiting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The Governing Body, APO’s highest decision-making authority, convenes yearly to guide the organization’s strategic path, approve key proposals, and review the Secretariat’s performance. The current session is hosted by the Government of Indonesia.
Founded in 1961, the Asian Productivity Organization is an intergovernmental body based in Tokyo that promotes productivity enhancement through cooperation among its 21 member economies. India, as a founding member, has consistently contributed to shaping the organization’s vision and advancing its mission for sustainable and inclusive growth in the region.
