The year 1987 was another rewarding year for the APO. The program organized during the year continued t witness growing demand and recognition from member countries. The total number of participants attending APO programmes in 1987 was around one thousand, and the combined duration of the APO experts deputed to member countries reached another record of one hundred man-weeks on the various training  and consultancy assignment.

The programme reported in the Annual Report deals with the activities undertaken during the year took up some new area which reflects the change in the coverage of the APO programme. Basic research was undertaken on information technology to identify the opportunities which the technology presents in improving productivity in the region. Similarly, a survey on biotechnology is in progress, and a survey on disseminating new technology in agriculture is nearing completion. Training projects on subject such as office automation, application of computers for marketing, management of state-owned enterprises and regional industrialization were organized.           

Readers will find in this report the board recommendations of the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) and other annual activities under taken during the year in meeting the needs of APO member countries in raising productivity in the agriculture, industry, and service sectors. The major event for the APO in 1989 was completion of the report of its SPC adopted by governing body for implementation.

The year 1990 was first year for implementing recommendation of the strategic planning committee (SPC) on future development strategies and activities the APO should undertake to meet new challenge of productivity in the changing context of the region in the new decade of 1990s. APO has made some changes to its program structure and in the focus and thrust of its activities. These changes, which the reader will find in this report, have been carried out after an extensive exercise in deciphering development issues and productivity strategies for the new decade undertaken by an advisory group of 34 leading economists of the region.

The APO completed 30 years of its operation in 1991 in productivity promotion in Asia and the pacific. The activities and program reported in this annual report reflect the latest trend of the productivity movement in the region which has emerged as a result of the collective efforts made by the APO and its member countries over a period of three decades. The most spectacular achievement of the productivity endeavor in the last 30 years is the commendable formation of a common will within the region and among the member countries to strive for productivity enhancement.     

The annual report for year 1993 gives a detailed account of the activities which the APO organized to address the productivity challenges arising from the region’s dynamic economic development. In term of macroeconomics changes, the year under review witnessed greater economic interdependence and liberalization among member countries. To examine the policy implication of these changes on future productivity strategies, a number of projects were organized.

In 1994APO placed special emphasis on following areas: assistance to member countries to develop their supporting industries; promotion of quality management and the application of information technologies; formulation of effective mechanisms to help disseminate environment friendly “cleaner production” system; and identification of policy and business implication of growing R&D capabilities in the region’s developing countries.

APO has lunched new activities during 1995 to promote the concept and practices of green productivity in the member countries and the development of supporting industries.  

This annual report describes in concrete ways the activities undertaken during 1995. The program thrusts on quality management and information technology were sustained during the year under review. Projects were implemented on ISO 9000 quality certification, during the year under review. In agriculture, APO strengthened its programs on agriculture research and extension work, environment-friendly farming system and practices.

This annual report gives a comprehensive review and serves as a record of the many-faceted work undertaken by the APO in 1997. Much was accomplished in the year. The major event for APO in 1997 was the signing on 2 June 1997 in Phuket, Thailand, a MOU with the UNEP and Environment Program Center. 

The annual report for year 1998 gives a detailed account of the activities which the APO organized to address the productivity challenges arising from the region’s dynamic economic development.  For the first time, the APO took part into two major public events to promote the work of the APO. One was the Amazing Productivity Week in Bangkok organized by the Thailand productivity Institute, and the other was International Cooperation festival in Tokyo organized by the Japan International cooperation Agency (JICA) and others.

This annual report of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) gives a comprehensive record of the changes and activities it undertook in the year 2000.  It was a year of change and renewal for the APO in response to develop in member countries and in the global socio-economic environment. The classification of APO activities was modified from sixteen subject areas to twelve. This was to reflect more sharply strategic intent of the APO program, the project under thrust areas, and the allocation of resources in priority area.

This annual report is a comprehensive record of development and activities of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) in 2001 to provide an understanding of the mission and work of the APO. The year 2001 marked the 40^th anniversary of the APO, a new milestone in annals of the organization. A special publication, the APO 40^th anniversary: 1961 – 2000, was issued to commemorate that occasion.

This report is an exhaustive account of the activities undertaken by the organization in 2002. There are two major events undertaken in 2002 that merit special mention. One was APO participation in the UN world summit on sustainable development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa and other was the APO 2^nd world conference on green productivity (GP) held in Manila, the Philippine. Both are related to the APO GP program, a unique and significant strategy to integrate environment protection with productivity improvement.

This annual report is a comprehensive record of the APO programs and activities undertaken in 2003. It gives readers an appreciation of the mission of the organization and the extensive work being done to promote and enhance productivity in Asia and the Pacific. In 2003, countries in Asia and the Pacific showed mixed economics performances. While newly industrializing economies suffered from economic stagnation and even deflation, ASEAN and SAARC countries general achieved relatively high and vigorous growth rates. The dynamic growth of the people’s Republic of China and positive sign of recovery in Japan after a long recession will be key factors in sustaining Asian –Pacific economies in the year to come.

This publication is an account of APO programs and an activity implemented in 2004 and gives readers an overview of the mission and extensive work done to promote and enhance productivity in the Asia-Pacific region. Economic performance in 2004 showed slight improvement compared with the preceding year. The APO has been revising its programs and adding new project to meet the emerging needs of member countries. Activities were focused on strengthening competitiveness while protecting the environment and maintaining social fairness, mainly through human resources development.