Fiji successfully concluded its chairmanship of the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) today, marking a year of significant achievements and regional cooperation under Fijian leadership. During the 67th Session of the APO Governing Body Meeting, Mr. Jone Maritino Nemani, Permanent Secretary of Fiji's Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, officially handed over the chairmanship to Mr. Amardeep Singh Bhatia of India after serving as Chair from 2024 to 2025.
In his farewell address, PS Nemani highlighted Fiji's productive leadership year, noting several key accomplishments that advanced the APO's mission across the Asia-Pacific region. Most notably, Fiji had the honour of hosting the landmark 65th Workshop Meeting of Heads of National Productivity Organisations (NPOs) in October 2024, which was graced by the presence of Fiji's President H.E. Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Deputy Prime Minister Honourable Manoa Kamikamica.
"Throughout my tenure as Chair, Fiji demonstrated that while the APO possesses a unique ability to consult with stakeholders and make rapid progress—a highly desirable trait seldom seen among bureaucracies. Throughout the past year, the APO has embodied what we Fijians have always known: that it is not the size, but the ability of a community to come together and figure out a way forward that is the essential ingredient for success, PS Nemani remarked during the handover ceremony.
Under Fiji's chairmanship, the APO achieved several important milestones, including the successful leadership of the Task Force on Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), which finalised comprehensive guidelines that will open new frontiers of cooperation for the APO. As a member of the Green Productivity Advisory Council, Fiji contributed valuable insights that helped advance the APO's sustainability initiatives. Additionally, PS Nemani’s participation in the Executive Leadership Program in France brought Fijian perspectives to international productivity discussions.
In expressing his gratitude, PS Nemani thanked the first and second Vice Chairs, all APO Directors, and the Secretariat for their cooperation and support during his tenure and expressed confidence that the new Chair and Vice Chairs will enjoy their tenures as much as he did.
The APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata expressed gratitude to PS Nemani for his dedicated service and welcomed the incoming leadership team, emphasising the organisation's commitment to advancing productivity initiatives across its member countries. The handover marks another chapter in the APO's history as the organisation continues its mission to enhance productivity and competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region through mutual cooperation among its member countries.