During the 66th Governing Body Meeting, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 28 to 30, 2024, the Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, who serves as the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Director for Fiji, was given the responsibility of serving as the new APO Chair for 2024–2025.

The China Productivity Center’s outgoing Chair, Mr. Sheng Hsuing Hsu, who represented the People’s Republic of China there, passed on the chairmanship.

As the representative of the Government of the Republic of Fiji, Mr. Nemani, the newly appointed APO Chair for the year 2024–2025, welcomed everyone to the 66th Session of the APO Governing Body and expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity to continue this collaborative atmosphere.

Mr. Nemani emphasized that since joining the APO in 1984, Fiji has greatly profited from the mutually beneficial ecosystem for the pursuit of productivity growth.

He continued by saying that while the APO’s collaborative attitude was helpful in the past, it is now crucial in light of the numerous difficulties the globe faces, including establishing an inclusive and equal society, digitization, and climate change.

These global issues necessitate a multilateral approach in order to be resolved. International associations like the APO offer members useful forums for planning, organizing, and putting into practice cooperative solutions that are outside the purview of any one individual.

“In this sense, in order for international organizations like APO to effectively fulfill their duties as facilitators, it is imperative that efficacy and accountability be maintained at the highest levels in order to sustain the trust that fosters the growth of fruitful collaborations.

He expressed his gratitude to Secretary-General Dr. Indra and the departing Chair on behalf of the Republic of China for their significant and comprehensive work on the APO Vision 2025: Pause-and-Reflect Activity and the impartial third-party evaluation, which he looked forward to carrying out in his capacity as Chair.

Through the Fiji APO Director, the APO Secretary General Dr. Singawinata thanked the Fijian government for accepting the chairmanship and said he was looking forward to working with him to maintain and accelerate productivity development for member nations during the 2024–2025 term.

The yearly GBM remains essential to fortifying ties between the many APO members and their dedication to the common goal of raising productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

The APO Chair, Mr. Nemani, conveyed his profound appreciation to the APO for providing him with the chance to serve as chairperson for the years 2024–2025. He also said that Fiji is eager to continue pursuing the important goal of raising member countries’ productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

As Fiji is the sole Pacific member nation now in APO, Mr. Nemani also suggested during the 66th Session of the APO Governing Body that an invitation be sent out to the area to join APO.

All of the member nations voiced their complete support for this and agreed to extend the offer to additional Pacific Island nations.

Mr. Nemani underlined the Fijian government’s support of the APO’s tireless efforts to advance inclusive innovation-driven productivity growth throughout the Asia Pacific region.