“India’s Chairmanship reflects our belief in collaborative innovation and sustainability to drive inclusive growth.” — Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS
India has assumed the Chairmanship of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) for the 2025–26 term, marking a significant milestone in its regional leadership. The transition was formalized during the 67th Governing Body Meeting (GBM) held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from May 20–22, 2025.
With Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), appointed as APO Chair and India’s Director, the nation is positioned to drive transformative change across the Asia-Pacific. India’s focus will center on sustainable growth, digital innovation, green productivity, and inclusive development for all 21 APO member countries.
🌏 What Is the Asian Productivity Organization?
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 1961 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With 21 member countries spanning the Asia-Pacific region, APO serves as the premier platform for enhancing productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic development.
APO’s mission is to boost productivity across member nations through capacity building, technology transfer, research collaboration, and best practice sharing. The organization focuses on creating inclusive growth models that balance economic advancement with environmental sustainability and social equity.
Think of APO as a “productivity club” for Asian countries. Just as students form study groups to share knowledge and improve together, Asian nations collaborate through APO to share best practices, technologies, and strategies that make their economies more efficient and sustainable. India is now leading this club for 2025-26.
APO Member Nations Include:
- South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
- East Asia: Japan, South Korea, China (Taiwan), Mongolia
- Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Lao PDR
- West Asia: Iran
- Pacific: Fiji
Core Objectives of APO:
- Innovation Enhancement: Promote cutting-edge productivity practices and technologies
- Capacity Building: Provide training, research, and knowledge exchange programs
- Sustainable Development: Integrate environmental stewardship with economic growth
- Regional Cooperation: Foster cross-border collaboration on technology and policy reforms
- Inclusive Growth: Ensure benefits reach all sectors, including MSMEs and disadvantaged groups
🇮🇳 India Takes Charge: Leadership Transition
India’s chairmanship was formalized at the 67th Governing Body Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from May 20-22, 2025. This marks more than a ceremonial handover—it represents India’s strategic commitment to shaping the Asia-Pacific productivity agenda.
Key Leadership:
- APO Chair: Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS
- Position: Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- Role: India’s APO Director and overall Chairperson for 2025-26 term
- Implementing Body: National Productivity Council (NPC)
India’s APO Identity: India is a founding member of APO (since 1961). The National Productivity Council (NPC) serves as India’s implementing body for all APO initiatives and programs.
🎯 India’s Vision for APO 2025-26
India’s chairmanship agenda is built on four strategic pillars designed to transform the Asia-Pacific into a productivity-driven, sustainable, and digitally empowered region.
1. Advancing APO Vision 2030
APO Vision 2030 is a long-term strategic roadmap aimed at transforming Asia into a productivity-centric economic zone. India’s focus includes:
- Setting measurable benchmarks for productivity improvement across member states
- Accelerating innovation through technology transfer and R&D collaboration
- Creating outcome-based frameworks for tracking progress
- Aligning national productivity strategies with regional goals
2. Promoting Regional Cooperation
India champions collaborative programs across critical development areas:
- Digital Transformation: Upskilling sectors with AI, automation, data analytics, and Industry 4.0 technologies
- Innovation: Promoting R&D, smart technologies, and scalable solutions for MSMEs
- Sustainability: Mainstreaming circular economy models and climate-resilient practices
- Entrepreneurship: Nurturing startups and micro-enterprises for inclusive economic development
3. Inclusive, Results-Oriented Programs
India advocates for tailored capacity-building initiatives that:
- Align with local productivity needs and development contexts
- Deliver measurable outcomes through data-driven evaluation
- Ensure inclusive participation from women, youth, and disadvantaged groups
- Support bottom-up development through community engagement
How can India balance its own development priorities with regional leadership responsibilities? Leading APO requires India to not just promote its own productivity models but also accommodate diverse development levels across member countries—from advanced economies like Japan to developing nations like Cambodia.
🌱 Green Productivity 2.0: India’s Sustainability Agenda
A cornerstone of India’s APO chairmanship is Green Productivity 2.0—a next-generation sustainability model that integrates eco-efficiency into all aspects of production and economic development.
Key Goals of Green Productivity 2.0:
- Scale Green Technologies: Promote adoption in agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors
- SME Sustainability Frameworks: Develop accessible tools for small and medium enterprises to measure and improve environmental performance
- Regional Knowledge Exchange: Lead collaborative platforms for sharing climate-resilient productivity models
- Circular Economy Integration: Mainstream waste reduction, resource efficiency, and sustainable supply chains
- Climate Adaptation: Build resilience through green innovation in vulnerable sectors
Green Productivity 2.0 is like upgrading from a gas-guzzling car to a hybrid—you get better performance (productivity) while using less fuel and producing less pollution (sustainability). India wants all APO countries to make this upgrade across their entire economies, from farms to factories.
This approach aligns with India’s domestic commitments under the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
💡 India’s Strategic Contributions to APO
India has been a consistent contributor to APO initiatives through the National Productivity Council (NPC), demonstrating leadership in multiple dimensions:
Capacity Building & Training:
- Hosting international workshops and training programs for APO member countries
- Training over 100 Indian professionals annually in productivity methodologies
- Facilitating knowledge exchange programs on Industry 4.0, automation, and digital technologies
Best Practice Sharing:
- Demonstrating successful MSME productivity models
- Sharing green productivity case studies from Indian agriculture and manufacturing
- Promoting digital governance frameworks and e-governance innovations
Policy Leadership:
- Setting frameworks aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Encouraging digital capacity-building for micro and small enterprises
- Supporting technology transfer and innovation ecosystems
NPC Role: The National Productivity Council is India’s apex body for productivity promotion and serves as the official implementing organization for all APO programs in India.
| Focus Area | India’s Contribution | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Transformation | AI/automation training programs, Industry 4.0 workshops | Enhanced digital literacy across APO members |
| Green Productivity | Sustainability frameworks, circular economy models | Reduced carbon footprint, climate resilience |
| MSME Development | Best practices, capacity building, technology access | Inclusive economic growth, job creation |
| Regional Cooperation | Knowledge exchange, policy harmonization | Stronger Asia-Pacific productivity networks |
⚖️ Challenges and Opportunities
Key Challenges Ahead:
- Diverse Development Levels: Bridging the productivity gap between developed economies (Japan, South Korea, Singapore) and developing nations (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Fiji)
- Resource Constraints: Ensuring equitable access to training, technology, and tools for smaller economies with limited budgets
- Technology Gaps: Accelerating digital infrastructure development in under-resourced regions
- Policy Harmonization: Aligning diverse national goals, priorities, and regulatory frameworks with APO-wide strategies
- Implementation Capacity: Translating vision into actionable programs with measurable results
Strategic Opportunities:
- Smart Manufacturing Leadership: Position India as a hub for Industry 4.0 innovation and best practices
- Green Innovation Partnerships: Lead collaborative R&D on sustainable technologies and climate solutions
- Digital Governance Frameworks: Shape regional standards for e-governance and digital public infrastructure
- Productivity Thought Leadership: Establish India as the intellectual center for Asia-Pacific productivity discourse
- South-South Cooperation: Strengthen ties with developing APO members through targeted support programs
Don’t confuse: APO (Asian Productivity Organization) with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). APO focuses specifically on productivity and has 21 members across Asia-Pacific. ASEAN is a broader political-economic union of 10 Southeast Asian nations.
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India assumed APO Chairmanship for the 2025-26 term, formalized at the 67th Governing Body Meeting.
APO was established in 1961 with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. India is a founding member.
Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, Secretary of DPIIT, serves as APO Chair and India’s Director.
The National Productivity Council (NPC) is India’s apex body for productivity and implements all APO programs.
Green Productivity 2.0 integrates eco-efficiency into production and is a key pillar of India’s APO agenda.
