The year 1971 may be viewed as a crucial on in that it witnessed the beginning of process by which the APO aims at focusing more sharply the area on which to concentrate its activities. Such a process follow, in general, the guideline laid down in declaration on Productivity which the Asian Productivity Congress of 1970 adopted, as well as the decision of governing body at its thirteenth session. 

During the year 1972 the APO made serious endeavors to reorient its programmes to meet the challenge of the second decade of operation. Major training course were restructured and their multiplier effect stressed. Some of the new projects undertaken were at the macro-level and a project for working out a uniform methodology and criteria for the measurement of productivity at macro-level was initiated. One of the new directions was the initiation of projects to ensure deeper involvement of top management, and to promote industrial relations. Efforts were also made to upgrade and improve the quality of managerial and technological programmes up to professional standers.

One of the major events which highlighted the year 1976 was the in-depth discussion of the important theme of transfer of technology at the 18^th session of governing body. The directors representing APO member countries made important statements at the meeting, underscoring the role of technology in economic development and stressing the need to give more emphases on technology in APO’s future activities. In consequence thereof, efforts were made to reflect the consensus of the meeting in APO’s future programmes, especially in term of developing and transferring appropriate and intermediate technologies that could be adopted to local situations. In view of its importance, the governing body decides to take up a more specific aspect of technology transfer at its next session, which a view to injecting a new impetus into APO programmes during the coming years.

This report was submitted to the 20^th session of the APO governing body. The year 1977 was a very fruitful year in annals of APO. For one thing, more projects were implemented and these were hosted by more member countries in 1977 then in the previous years. For example in 1977, seven training courses plus one seminar were conducted in four APO member countries.

The report contained hereinafter recounts what actually took place during the year 1977 as result of APO endeavors, with cooperation of its member countries and their respective National Productivity Organizations (NPOs).      

The present report providing a detail account of the activities and financial situation of the APO during the last calendar year (1979) was approached unanimously by the APO Governing Body which met in Tokyo from 12^th to 15^th may 1980.

During the year, APO not only saw quantitative increase but also qualitative improvement of projects. The APO project designed to meet specific needs of member countries.

APO programmes are designed to achieve the objective of increasing productivity in industrial, agriculture, and services sector in its member countries. During 1981, three board categories of activities, viz., productivity improvement, development of trainers and consultants in APO member countries, and dissemination of productivity knowledge and through printed literature and audio-visual aids were organized. These activities were carried out with the cooperation not only of APO countries but also of international and regional organization as well as institutions and government of developed countries.

The year1982 represent the first year of the 3^rd decade of the APO operation. During the year, the APO defines a new its role as a leader in productivity. Another highlight of the year was the decision to accept Malaysia as the sixteenth member of the APO.

The present report therefore delineates not only the project implemented by the APO under its various categories of activities but also explain it newly defined role, the APO look forward to the continued cooperation form all its member countries.

The year 1980 was an important year for APO as it not only marked its 20^th year of operation but also coincided with the beginning of a new decade. A record number of projects were undertaken by the APO during the year, ushering in an era of varied activities aimed at tackling the new challenges in the 1980s. Yet another highlight of the year was the conferment of the APO award for first time on nine distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to cause of productivity in Asia.

The year 1983 saw the APO redoubling its efforts in the process of continuously, searching for an optimum programme mix to serve the changing needs of its member countries in light of APO’s role as a leader in productivity.  Steps were initiated to create a closer linkage between productivity and national economic development. Both the governor Body and workshop meeting of Heads of NPOs deliberated upon issues relating to such linkage as well as approaches towards attaining the goal.

1984 was a redrawing year for the APO apart from the successful completion of the regular projects and renewed efforts to strengthen APO programes through research and study as well as through international cooperation, the year witnessed yet another expansion in APO’s membership when Fiji joined as member from the first day of January and Iran renewed its membership after a lapse of four year.