National Productivity Organization (NPO)
Representing Singapore at the Asian Productivity Organization (APO)
Asian Productivity Organization
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1961 to increase productivity in the Asia-Pacific region through mutual cooperation. The APO contributes to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the region through policy advisory services, acting as a think tank, and undertaking smart initiatives in the industry, agriculture, service, and public sectors.
The APO is shaping the future of the region by assisting member economies in formulating national strategies for enhanced productivity and through a range of institutional capacity-building efforts, including research and centers of excellence in members. It is nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory.
The current membership is 21 economies, comprising Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Republic of China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkiye, and Vietnam.
Singapore Productivity Centre (SGPC) is the National Productivity Organization (NPO) to represent Singapore at the Asian Productivity Organization (APO). As NPO, we are the planning and implementing arm to coordinate productivity and innovation projects for and hosted by Singapore.
Past Activities
Year 2022
Hosted Inbound Visits
In-bound Study Mission from Malaysia on Facts Finding and Technical Visit to Singapore on Human Capital Development and Initiative towards Enhancing Productivity and Competitiveness – 20-22 July 2022
- The mission members are from the government implementing agencies, private industries and policy maker.
- Through this IOSM, the Malaysia delegates aim to study and observe the best practices on human capital initiatives, learn experiences on innovative collaboration between public and private and gain insights from Singapore as an advanced country in order to improve productivity in Malaysia
Overseas Study Missions
Outbound Study Mission on Food Innovation and Thaifex in Bangkok, Thailand – 23-27 May 2022
- The first F2F IOSM that SGPC co-organised with APO and Thailand Productivity Institute since COVID.
- The mission is led by SGPC with mission members made up of food companies with established central kitchens that wish to diversify toward food manufacturing
- Through this IOSM, the Singapore delegates aim to study and observe the best practices of progressive food companies in the area of food innovation, RTE/RTC in Thailand. The participants also visited the annual Thaifex – Anuga Asia 2022, a F&B Trade Show.
Programmes supported by APO
Branding Workshop for SMEs
- A two-day branding workshop conducted with international brand design agency, Cowan, that allows participants to learn the ins and outs of branding, how to make their brand stand out by building a strong visual identity, a powerful brand story and setting their brand apart.
- Retail run – 29 & 31 March 2022
- F&B run – 1 & 2 June 2022
Branding Masterclass for Practitioners, Facilitators – 30 September 2022
A 1-day masterclass for practitioners, trainers, consultants and facilitators who wish to expand their toolbox and deepen skills to help SMEs in their journey to build brands that last.
The workshop is conducted in partnership with Cowan, and supported by the Asian Productivity Organisation
Ready-To-Eat & Ready-To-Cook Food Workshop (2.5 Days) – November 2022
- A 2.5 days workshop covering the technology behind RTE/RTC food production, cover how to manage RTE/RTC raw ingredients, kitchen equipment, packaging, and workflow design planning.
- The workshop is conducted with Chef Willment, founder and chairman of the Thailand Culinary Academy
Other Ad-Hoc Projects
Moderator for APO Productivity Talk (P-Talk) – 16 June 2022
- APO invited Mr Michael Tan as a moderator for an APO P-Talk which was featured on APO YouTube Channel
- The APO was swift to take advantage of digital platforms from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic for both operational continuity and finding new avenues to promote productivity.
- APO utilised the YouTube Channel to disseminate information on the latest issues, trends, and emerging productivity topics as well as interacting with views through a series of live presentations by productivity experts, government ministers, heads of international organizations, academics, and other recognized experts, titled P-Talks.