APO Secretary-General, Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology, and KDI Executive Director confer on a new master plan.

HANOI, VIETNAM/TOKYO, JAPAN - MediaOutReach - 31 July 2019 - AsianProductivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, VietnameseMinister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh, and Korea DevelopmentInstitute (KDI) Executive Director Dr. Youngsun Koh attended a preliminarymeeting in Hanoi, 26 July 2019, to discuss how to develop a NationalProductivity Master Plan for Vietnam. Others present included representativesof the International Cooperation Department, Department of Planning andFinance, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Innovation; Directorate for Standards,Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ); and Vietnam National Productivity Institute(VNPI). 

KDI Executive Director Dr. Youngsun Koh (3rd L), APO Secretary-General Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn (4th L), Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh (5th L), STAMEQ Deputy Director General Dr. Ha Minh Hiep (6th L), and others at the preliminary meeting on developing the National Productivity Master Plan for Vietnam in Hanoi, 26 July 2019. (Photo: Vietnam Minister of Science and Technology)

Secretary-General Dr. Santhi explained how the national productivitymaster plans had been developed for Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Fiji and the rationalefor APO assistance to member countries in drafting those plans. He alsoreported on the APO Centers of Excellence (COE) in the ROC, India, and Singapore,stating that he was well aware that Vietnam hoped to establish a COE onInnovation in the future. The Secretary-General briefly introduced the KDI,which is ranked among the six most influential think tanks worldwide outsidethe USA and highly regarded among major Asian economies. Executive Director Dr.Koh described how the KDI expected to work with STAMEQ, the VNPI, Ministry ofScience and Technology (MOST), and other major stakeholders to create an effectivenational master plan for Vietnam.

Minister Chu thanked Dr. Santhi for the support of the APO, particularlyfor his direct personal support. He stated that, "The Government of Vietnamcares deeply about productivity and innovation, since they are two key factors inits socioeconomic development plan for 2020--2030. After setting up the VietnamAcademy for Science and Technology Innovation, conditions are favorable for theestablishment of a COE on Innovation. STAMEQ, the VNPI, and the academy willcooperate closely to achieve that target."

Dr. Santhi emphasized that drafting a master plan accounted foronly 15% of success, while implementing it effectively accounted for 85%.Minister Chu agreed with that statement, pointing out that all the stakeholdersmust collaborate for the plan to achieve the intended outcomes.

The APO Secretary-General thanked STAMEQ Deputy DirectorGeneral Dr. Ha Minh Hiep and VNPI Deputy Director Nguyen Thu Hien for arrangingthe meeting and hoped that they would continue working closely with MOST, theKDI, and APO on the development and eventual implementation of the master plan.

About the APO

The Asian ProductivityOrganization (APO) is an intergovernmental organization committed to improvingproductivity in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1961, the APOcontributes to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the region throughpolicy advisory services, acting as a think tank, and undertaking smartinitiatives in the industry, agriculture, service, and public sectors. The APOis shaping the future of the region by assisting member economies informulating national strategies for enhanced productivity and through a rangeof institutional capacity-building efforts, including research and centers ofexcellence in member countries.

The current APO members are:Bangladesh, Cambodia, Republic of China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia,Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, andVietnam.