APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Nurmala Kartini Pandjaitan Sjahrir, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan, at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Tokyo on 13 March 2026.

The meeting provided an opportunity for Secretary-General Dr. Indra to brief Ambassador Sjahrir on the APO’s current activities and engagement with Indonesia, as well as to exchange views on potential areas of cooperation aligned with Indonesia’s national priorities. Secretary-General Dr. Indra noted Indonesia’s long-standing participation in the APO and reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration through the APO’s counterpart in Indonesia, the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia.

Ambassador Sjahrir welcomed the APO’s productivity-focused work and emphasized the importance of human resource development and workforce readiness in supporting Indonesia’s broader national agenda. She underscored the need to strengthen skills development so that more Indonesians can pursue higher-skilled career pathways in sectors such as caregiving, agriculture, construction, and automotive-related industries.

The discussion also highlighted Indonesia’s interest in advancing both green and blue economies in a balanced and mutually reinforcing manner. Ambassador Sjahrir emphasized the importance of equipping workers with the skills required for emerging sectors, including AI and digital literacy, renewable energy, and waste-to-energy. Secretary-General Dr. Indra shared that the APO, through its productivity mandate and cooperation frameworks, could support Indonesia’s efforts in workforce upgrading and productivity enhancement in coordination with the Ministry of Manpower and other relevant stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming the importance of close cooperation and effective communication in advancing shared priority areas, particularly the development of green and blue economies alongside related human resource and productivity initiatives.