Congratulating the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) on its 60th anniversary in 2021 and  applauding the tenacity of the organization in continuing the momentous journey that began in 1961;  

Commending the APO’s standing as an international organization that has consistently and effectively  pursued its mission and goals since its establishment; 

Appreciating the close cooperation among APO members in achieving productivity enhancement in the  Asia-Pacific region through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices of productivity  improvement methodology, tools, and techniques during the last six decades; 

Appreciating further the expansion of productivity applications beyond the economic and business  spheres to other key areas central to the well-being and dignity of the current and future generations  including the preservation of the environment and greater social inclusivity;  

Acknowledging the sustained productivity performance of APO members leading to remarkable  socioeconomic progress in the region; 

Recognizing the broad dimensions of productivity including its contributions to developing sound, well rounded societies;  

Realizing that productivity improvement has become more urgent and important considering the  unprecedented, unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic; and 

Supporting the aspirations of the APO Vision 2025 to promote inclusive, innovation-led productivity  growth in the region: 

The APO Governing Body hereby reaffirms the commitment to promoting the centrality of productivity  in driving national development endeavors and in enterprise, organizational, and individual growth to  meet new, fast-emerging demands and challenges, with emphases and priority targets outlined in the  attachment to this statement.  

The Governing Body further tasks the APO Secretariat with following up on the points contained in this  statement in coordination with the National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) of APO members and in  synergy with the goals and deliverables of the APO Vision 2025 and looks forward to receiving a final  report on the implementation of this Tokyo Statement on the Centrality of Productivity together with the  assessment of Vision 2025 after its completion.  

Tokyo Statement on the Centrality of Productivity: 

Emphases and Priority Targets 

Maximizing the New Drivers of Productivity  

1. Leverage innovations to maximize the impact of productivity improvement initiatives by  preparing the enabling environments, regulatory frameworks, and human resources that  promote and sustain innovation. 
2. Take advantage of advanced technologies and successful Fourth Industrial Revolution  experiences leading to cutting-edge productivity improvement methodology, tools, and  techniques.  
3. Capitalize on digitalization, thereby broadening and expediting productivity-driven smart  transformation.  

Building a Quality Workforce  

4. Anticipate future work scenarios and develop a quality workforce across APO members through  retraining, upskilling, and continuous learning by optimizing the APO’s open, e-learning  platform and various virtual learning programs.  
5. Accelerate the certification of productivity professionals to facilitate workforce development by  developing NPOs as APO certification bodies.  

Enhancing Tools, Techniques, and Methodologies 

6. Upgrade Green Productivity (GP) by updating its tools, techniques, and methodologies; building  synergy with other approaches and frameworks for mitigating new, pressing global  environmental issues; and mapping out additional opportunities for international collaboration  to enable GP to contribute to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  
7. Demonstrate and disseminate the tangible outcomes and benefits of GP to gain greater  recognition and support from governments, the private sector, international organizations, and  ordinary citizens.  
8. Develop innovative entrepreneurial and business skills among youth by imparting productivity  tools and techniques for evolving work and business styles under the new normal.  
9. Produce practical, user-friendly productivity improvement tools, measurements, and monitoring  methods for SMEs in the form of mobile applications to support their digitalization efforts.  
10. Disseminate key learning from the APO Centers of Excellence, demonstration companies, and  site visit partners by producing genba-based, down-to-earth productivity innovation stories to  encourage replication of successful applications of productivity tools and techniques across the  region.  

Promoting Inclusive Productivity 

11. Intensify training and workshops for women entrepreneurs and female workers focusing on  innovation and smart productivity tools and techniques to produce more women leaders in the  business world and in the workforce. 
12. Step up national productivity movements aimed at developing productivity mindsets in all  segments of society including those in micro industries and the informal sector as well as  persons with different abilities by harnessing the power of digital technologies that enable broad,  inclusive outreach.  

Strengthening NPOs 

13. Empower NPOs to become key policy partners of their governments by equipping them with  productivity data, outlooks, and insights generated through joint research and data-driven  analyses. 

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14. Provide robust, tailored in-country programs to assist NPOs in developing national productivity  master plans, overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, disseminating the goals and  deliverables of the APO Vision 2025, elevating national productivity awards, and establishing  broad-based, inclusive national productivity networks.  
15. Support cooperation among NPOs through various in-country platforms to realize greater  sharing of productivity improvement experiences and practices and promote cross-fertilization  of ideas among APO members.  

Promoting International Cooperation and Partnerships 

16. Explore opportunities for expanding membership, as full members or associates, for eligible  countries in the Asia-Pacific region and intensify cooperation with governments and  international organizations for achieving greater synergy in the work of the organization and in  addressing issues of common concern.  
17. Encourage participation of the private sector, research institutions, associations, alumni, and  nongovernmental organizations to enrich the work of the APO.  

Strengthening the APO Secretariat  

18. Support the transformation of the APO Secretariat including building up strategic digital  capability to enhance services to its members.  

The Governing Body may review and adjust the priority targets and emphases listed in this Attachment  as required. The APO Secretariat will submit an interim report on the implementation of the Statement  on the Centrality of Productivity at the end of 2023.