APO pushes for ‘smart initiative’ to boost Asian productivity

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Santhi Kanoktanaporn yesterday said the organisation would take up a myriad of technology-enabled initiatives to help member economies become more competitive and productive in the new digital economy era, reports UNB.
The APO chief made the remark at the 57th Workshop Meeting (WSM) of Heads of National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) that convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia yesterday.
In his first official address after assuming the post last month, the APO chief laid emphasis on the goals of the Roadmap to Achieve Vision 2020, according to a message received here from the APO headquarters.
Underlining the present-day relevance of ‘ICT for Smart’ for all the member economies as a key means to achieve the Vision 2020 goals, the Secretary-General said in a hyper-connected digital world, seamless flows of data and information could generate more economic value than the global goods trade.
“Virtually, every type of cross-border transaction has a digital component. This trend towards a digital world economy will only accelerate,” he stated.
The Secretary-General emphasised the need for more focused, goal-oriented collaboration between the APO and NPOs to facilitate sustainable economic development across the Asia-Pacific.
He announced that the APO would be driving more pioneering, upstream research on productivity measurement across the key areas of the public sector, higher education, knowledge, and cities.
“The APO will also work with NPOs to develop new projects for emerging trends such as the Internet of Things and smart initiatives for industry, agriculture, and services,” he added.
Malaysia’s Second Minister of International Trade and Industry Ong Ka Chuan and APO Director for Malaysia Tan Sri Azman Hashim also addressed.
Ong Ka Chuan noted that productivity was a crucial game-changer in the 21st century economy.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution, even in its current early stages, is already beginning to alter the way we work, live, and interact 
with each other. To embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, productivity organisations 
have a crucial role in ensuring that all factors are optimally used to achieve productivity gains,” he said.
The three-day workshop, which kicked off on Wednesday, is attended by representatives of 19 APO member countries, along with agriculture delegates and advisers. Observers from other organizations are also in attendance.
The APO will work with NPOs to help member countries tap emerging technologies like the Internet of Things and develop smart initiatives for industry, agriculture, and services.
Focus on pioneering, upstream research on productivity measurement across the key areas of the public sector, higher education, knowledge, and cities to help achieve Vision 2020.
APO will help member economies create global benchmarks and operational standards for public sector.

APO pushes for smart initiative to boost Asian productivity

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Santhi Kanoktanaporn yesterday said the organisation would take up a myriad of technology-enabled initiatives to help member economies become more competitive and productive in the new digital economy era, reports UNB. The APO chief made the remark at the 57th Workshop Meeting (WSM) of Heads of National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) that convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia yesterday. In his first official address after assuming the post last month, the APO chief laid emphasis on the goals of the Roadmap to Achieve Vision 2020, according to a message received here from the APO headquarters. Underlining the present-day relevance of ICT for Smart for all the member economies as a key means to achieve the Vision 2020 goals, the Secretary-General said in a hyper-connected digital world, seamless flows of data and information could generate more economic value than the global goods trade. Virtually, every type of cross-border transaction has a digital component. This trend towards a digital world economy will only accelerate, he stated. The Secretary-General emphasised the need for more focused, goal-oriented collaboration between the APO and NPOs to facilitate sustainable economic development across the Asia-Pacific. He announced that the APO would be driving more pioneering, upstream research on productivity measurement across the key areas of the public sector, higher education, knowledge,and cities. The APO will also work with NPOs to develop new projects for emerging trends such as the Internet of Things and smart initiatives for industry, agriculture, and services, he added. Malaysias Second Minister of InternationalTrade and Industry Ong Ka Chuan and APO Director for Malaysia Tan Sri Azman Hashim also addressed. Ong Ka Chuan noted that productivity was a crucial game-changer in the 21st century economy. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, even in its current early stages, is already beginningto alter the way we work, live, and interact with each other. To embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, productivity organisations have a crucial role in ensuring that all factors are optimally used to achieve productivity gains,he said. The three-day workshop, which kicked off on Wednesday, is attended by representatives of 19 APO member countries, along with agriculture delegates and advisers. Observers from other organizations are also in attendance. The APO will work with NPOs to help member countries tap emerging technologies like the Internet of Things and develop smart initiatives for industry, agriculture, and services. Focus on pioneering, upstream research on productivity measurement across the key areas of the public sector, higher education, knowledge, and cities to help achieve Vision 2020. APO will help member economies createglobal benchmarks and operational standards for public sector.