47th Session of the APO Governing Body
14–16 June 2005, Tokyo, Japan
Statement by the New APO Chairman
by Mr. Taito Waqa
Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity & APO Director for Fij
Fellow APO Directors, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Advisers and Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the outset, I would like to record my great appreciation for the faith and trust that you have placed in me, in appointing me as Chairman of the APO- This is an honour not only in my personal capacity, but also for my country and the government of the Republic of the Fiji Islands.
Fiji is the smallest member of the APO, and as such it is an honour for my country to assume the chairmanship of the organization. I pledge to do my best to justify the faith you have placed in me-
I wish at this juncture to congratulate the JPC-SED on its Silver Anniversary- I must also applaud the immense contribution it has made not only in Japan itself, but in all the APO member countries', and on the global scene. I wish it well for the next 50 years.
I must thank my predecessor. Mr. Hsu, the A.PO Director for ROC for his leadership over the past year. The past year has been one in which the important issue of evolving the APO for the better has begun to be addressed. This is an important issue that will be addressed further during the course of this forum. I only hope that I can do just as well as the former Chairman in moving the APO forward.
I take this opportunity to congratulate the two Vice-Chairmen for their appointments, and look forward to our working together during the course of this GBM and the period that follows to ensure that all plans developed are implemented in accordance with the wishes of the GBM, I look forward to your advice and support.
Our region is facing new challenges that impact on the very competitiveness of our nations. Globalization has bought with it many benefits, but it has also bought its own challenges, because the world is not a level playing field. All countries are at the mercy of the vagaries of the global economy, but this is exacerbated even more in the small vulnerable island nations like Fiji. In such countries where there are minimal resources, the negative effects of globalization can be quite graphic.
While this takes place we realize also that within APO the rate of growth and disparity is quite considerable- The less developed member countries lag well behind the advanced member countries, and this was bought out quite clearly during the symposium that was held yesterday. This is an area that APO needs to pay attention to more seriously.
The very purpose of productivity is to create a better quality of life for the citizens of our countries-it is to create wealth that must then finds its way into upgrading the lives our peoples. We cannot afford to leave those at the bottom of the pile behind- Programs and initiatives must be developed that address the fundamental distribution of wealth to the poorest in society, by empowering them with ways and means of pulling themselves out of poverty.
On the other side of the spectrum, is that fact that APO needs to take on the concerns of the more advanced NPOS. To do so, APO must be at the leading edge of thinking on productivity. Our contribution to global thinking on productivity issues and concerns must be first class, and recognized as such the world over, The role of research will be critical, especially now with the evolution of the borderless economy and the rapid rate of global change.
In this world of constant change, of over rising expectations, of the global village, and of the diminishing, resources of the APO, it will become necessary for us to constantly review out plans to ensure that APO delivers the best possible assistance to member countries. We must ensure that APO is dynamic, that it is up to date with the issues that it addresses, and that most importantly that it is able to meet the needs of member countries--that it provides relevant assistance to member countries,
Before closing however, I would like to mention, that Fiji has benefited greatly from its membership of the APO. The small vulnerable island nations in the Pacific can benefit greatly from the wealth of knowledge and experience that resides in APO. I will look forward to seeing more of these countries being approached to consider membership of the APO.
In closing, I must conclude that I will look to the Directors of each member country to provide the advice that will allow us to collectively set the direction forward for the APO.
I must also congratulate Mr. Shigeo Takenaka for his appointment as Secretary-General of the APO, in these critical times. We have already begun to see renewed vigour of the APO, and look forward to more of the same. the role of the Secretariat is critical, and I look forward to the support of the Secretary General and his team in the task that lies before us.
Thank You.
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