The APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata conducted an official visit to Lao PDR from 13 to 14 November 2025 to advance national productivity initiatives and discuss future strategic cooperation under the new APO Vision 2030.

During the visit, the Secretary-General delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Lao National Productivity Festival 2025, an initiative originally supported by the APO that has since grown into an annual national platform for promoting productivity, innovation, and local products. He commended Lao PDR for its sustained improvements in productivity and its proactive engagement in APO programs, noting that such commitment is key to advancing national competitiveness. He also emphasized the importance of inclusive and innovation-led productivity in building sustainable and resilient economies and applauded the Lao National Productivity Organization (LNPO) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for empowering youth and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the festival theme “Empowering Youth and SMEs for a Sustainable and Digital Future.”

APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra delivered the keynote address at the Lao National Productivity Festival 2025.

Behind the podiums, left to right: Manivone Vongxay, Director General of the Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Promotion; H.E. Chanthaboun Soukaloun, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce; APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata; and Daovone Phachanthavong, Executive Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, joined other dignitaries in officially launching the Lao National Productivity Festival 2025.

A highlight of the visit was the dissemination conference of the Development of Demonstration Companies (DMP) project Enhancing Productivity for Halal Certification in Lao PDR, jointly implemented by the APO and LNPO. The project supported three companies, Dao Heuang Group; Somxay Chalern Songserm Karnkased Sole Co., Ltd.; and Veunkham Salt Co., Ltd., in improving production and operational efficiency and strengthening their readiness for halal certification. Through productivity tools such as 5S, kaizen, seven wastes, material flow cost accounting, and Training Within Industry, the companies successfully established halal assurance systems and obtained halal certification for their products. Secretary-General Dr. Indra presented the three enterprises with APO demonstration company certificates, encouraging them to serve as role models for Lao SMEs and to support the adoption of productivity-based approaches to participating in the expanding global halal market.

APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra (right) presented the three companies participating in the Enhancing Productivity for Halal Certification in Lao PDR project with APO demonstration company certificates.

As part of the visit, Dr. Indra also paid a courtesy call on H.E. Chanthaboun Soukaloun, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce. They discussed the new collaborative approaches under the APO Vision 2030, which focuses on providing member-driven, outcome-focused support to accelerate productivity growth in APO members. Both sides explored future areas of cooperation, including continued capacity building for SMEs, enhancing agricultural supply chains, and expanding digital and Green Productivity initiatives.

APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra (left) met with H.E. Chanthaboun Soukaloun (right), Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.

The visit by Secretary-General Dr. Indra reaffirmed the APO’s commitment to supporting Lao PDR as well as other APO members in strengthening national productivity initiatives and building a more inclusive, competitive, and sustainable economy.