Private sector urged to focus on innovation-led productivity to promote trade, exports

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Japan Secretary General Dr Santhi Kanoktanaporn Wednesday called upon the private sector of Pakistan to focus on innovation-led productivity to improve trade and exports.

He said this while exchanging views with business community here at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Chief Executive Officer of National Productivity Organization of Pakistan Abdul Ghaffar Khattak also accompanied him at the occasion. 

Dr Santhi Kanoktanaporn said in the current highly competitive business environment, only those organizations could excel that focused on innovation-led productivity while the manufacturers stuck up with obsolete technology and methods of production just evaporated.

He stressed that all organizations in Pakistan should develop business models with future foresight to achieve sustainable growth.

Dilating upon the role of his organization, he said APO was representing 20 economies of Asia and Pacific and it was working in collaboration with National Productivity Organizations (NPOs) of member countries to promote the efficiency and productivity of private sectors for sustainable socioeconomic development.

He said SMEs played key role in the economic development of any country and APO was working to further strengthen the NPOs of member countries to promote SME sector.

He assured that APO in collaboration with NPO Pakistan and chambers would continue to work for promoting innovation-led growth in Pakistan.

Chief Executive Officer, National Productivity Organization of Pakistan Abdul Ghaffar Khattak said Pakistani manufacturers should focus on improving the quality and standard of their products to achieve better growth.

He said NPO in liaison with ICCI would continue to work for promoting concepts of resource efficiency and smart manufacturing in SMEs of the region for improving the quality and performance of their products.

He assured that ICCI proposal for its representation in NPO BoD would be given due consideration.

Speaking at the occasion, President of ICCI Sheikh Amir Waheed, appreciated the role of APO for making member economies more productive and competitive by enhancing their productivity. 

He stressed that APO and NPO should develop close liaison with chambers to further improve the efficiency and productivity of private sector in Pakistan.

He said sitting president of ICCI should be included in the BoD of NPO to represent the voice of private sector in its future policies.

Senior Vice President of ICCI Muhammad Naveed said many sectors of Pakistan’s economy had huge potential to grow and APO in collaboration with NPO Pakistan should cooperate with local industry in adopting modern techniques of production, diversification and future mapping of business.