India hosts 68th APO Governing Body session at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Synopsis
India is chairing the 68th APO Governing Body session at Bharat Mandapam — a significant multilateral moment that puts New Delhi at the centre of Asia-Pacific productivity policy. With elections for APO leadership, a biennium budget, and Vision 2030 progress all on the agenda, the three-day meeting carries real institutional weight beyond the ceremonial.
Key Takeaways
India is hosting the 68th APO Governing Body Session at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 20 to 22 May 2025 .
Over 60 senior delegates from 20 APO member economies are attending, along with observers from Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Bhutan , and the Global Green Growth Institute .
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the session on Thursday.
Key agenda items include the APO Chair and Vice Chair elections for 2026–27 , the 2027–28 biennium budget , and a review of APO Vision 2030 progress.
Awards will be conferred under the APO National Awards Programme for Productivity Advocates and Productivity Technical Experts.
The Asian Productivity Organisation , founded in 1961 , comprises 21 member economies across the Asia-Pacific region.
India is hosting the 68th Session of the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Governing Body at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 20 to 22 May 2025, with the Indian Government serving as Chair. The three-day meeting, confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, brings together over 60 senior delegates from 20 APO member economies for high-level deliberations on the organisation's strategic and institutional agenda.
Inaugural Session and Key Attendees
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will attend the inaugural session on Thursday. APO directors, advisors, and representatives of diplomatic missions of APO member economies are also expected to be present. Observers from the governments of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Bhutan, as well as the Global Green Growth Institute, will participate alongside member delegates.
Key Agenda Items
The governing body meeting will take up a substantive agenda covering the formal inauguration and opening of the 68th Governing Body Meeting (GBM); election of the APO Chair and Vice Chairs for 2026–27; and consideration and adoption of the APO Annual and Financial Report. Delegates will also deliberate on budget proposals and institutional reforms, review progress under the APO Vision 2030 framework, assess Secretariat performance, and endorse key policy and procedural recommendations. The APO preliminary budget for the 2027–28 biennium and a review of APO Secretary-General election procedures are among the specific items on the table.
APO National Awards to Be Conferred
The inaugural session will also feature the conferral of awards under the APO National Awards Programme, in two categories: the APO National Award for Productivity Advocates and the APO National Award for Productivity Technical Experts. These awards are designed to recognise outstanding productivity champions driving impactful initiatives across member economies, and to strengthen the role of National Productivity Organisations (NPOs) in fostering a culture of measurable productivity improvement.
About the Asian Productivity Organisation
Established in 1961, the Asian Productivity Organisation is an intergovernmental body comprising 21 member economies from the Asia-Pacific region. Over more than six decades, the APO has advanced productivity-led socioeconomic development through policy dialogue, technical cooperation, institutional capacity building, and knowledge exchange. India's role as Chair and host of this session underscores its commitment to regional economic cooperation and productivity-driven growth in alignment with national and global development priorities.
Bilateral Engagements on the Sidelines
Beyond formal sessions, the three-day event is expected to facilitate bilateral and multilateral engagements among member economies, creating a platform for knowledge exchange and deeper cooperation. This comes amid India's broader push to strengthen its standing in multilateral economic forums across the Indo-Pacific.
Point of View
And the APO platform offers quiet but durable influence over regional productivity and economic policy norms. The Vision 2030 review and the Secretary-General election procedures on the agenda are more consequential than the ceremonial framing suggests; they will shape the organisation's institutional direction for years. The inclusion of observers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Bhutan also signals a slow expansion of APO's geographic footprint — worth watching as Central Asian economies seek deeper Asia-Pacific integration.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 68th APO Governing Body Session?
It is the annual high-level meeting of the Asian Productivity Organisation's Governing Body, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 20 to 22 May 2025. Over 60 delegates from 20 member economies are attending to deliberate on the APO's strategic, financial, and institutional agenda.
Why is India hosting the APO Governing Body session?
India is serving as Chair of the APO Governing Body for the current term, which carries the responsibility of hosting the annual session. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed the hosting arrangement, reflecting India's commitment to productivity-led regional cooperation.
Who will inaugurate the 68th APO Governing Body meeting?
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will attend and inaugurate the session on Thursday, 22 May 2025. APO directors, advisors, diplomatic mission representatives, and observers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bhutan, and the Global Green Growth Institute will also be present.
What is the APO Vision 2030 framework?
APO Vision 2030 is the Asian Productivity Organisation's long-term strategic framework guiding member economies toward sustainable productivity and socioeconomic development through 2030. Progress under this framework is among the key agenda items at the 68th Governing Body session.
What is the Asian Productivity Organisation?
The Asian Productivity Organisation is an intergovernmental body established in 1961, comprising 21 member economies from the Asia-Pacific region. It promotes productivity-led sustainable development through policy dialogue, technical cooperation, and knowledge exchange among member governments.
