Close to 70 foreign delegates are expected to attend the Asian Productivity Organization’s 61st Governing Body Meeting in Manila starting next Wednesday, April 10. This was announced by the organizing institution, the Development Academy of the Philippines, the designated national productivity organization (NPO) of the host country, the Philippines.
Among those who have confirmed their attendance to the three-day conclave are Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Md. Abdul Halim of Bangladesh, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft Phork Sovanrith of Cambodia, National Productivity Council Director General Dr. Amita Prasad of India, National Iranian Productivity Organization Head Fatemeh Pahlevani of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Productivity Center Chairman Dr. Kyoo-Sung Noh of the Republic of Korea, Lao National Productivity Organization Director General Bountheung Douangsavanh of Lao PDR, Malaysia Productivity Corporation Director General Mohd. Razali Hussain of Malaysia, Mongolian Productivity Organization Chairman Yamaaranz Erkhembayar of Mongolia, APO Director Chew Mok Lee of Singapore, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Disaster Management Javigodage Jayadewa Rathnasiri of Sri Lanka, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Dr. Pasu Loharjun of Thailand.
National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro and DAP President Atty. Engelbert Caronan Jr. lead the local delegates who will take part in the annual meeting of the APO’s top policy-making body. This body is made up of the directors designated by each member government who meet annually to discuss and decide on policy, finance, programs, membership and other governance issues concerning the organization.
The APO, a regional intergovernmental organization made up of 20 member economies, has always strived to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Asia and the Pacific since its inception on May 11, 1961, and it has contributed significantly towards that end. In collaboration with the NPOs of each member country, it has done much in the areas of productivity and quality improvement in the agriculture, industry and service sectors, including the public sector, as it performed its roles as think tank, catalyst, regional adviser, institution builder, and clearing house of productivity information. The APO has helped member countries through a range of activities that include technical assistance, capability building and information dissemination, among other things.
This year’s GBM activities include the plenary sessions that will be held on the first and second day of the gathering as well as a cultural tour and a forum for local participants on the third and last day of the event.
The Philippines’ hosting of the GBM this year is the first time it is doing it after 21 years. The last time the country hosted the event was in 1998.