In the Asia-Pacific region, the service sector plays a significant role in economic and labor productivity growth. According to the APO Productivity Databook 2021, in 2010–19 the service sector dominated GDP growth, and advances in ICT have led to increases in service-sector contributions to labor productivity growth in most Asian countries. The proliferation of new […]
Rural tourism has great potential in the Asia-Pacific region with its abundant natural and cultural resources. The APO has been supporting its members in promoting productive, sustainable, and inclusive rural tourism, as aligned with the APO Vision 2025 goal of inclusive productivity. While the tourism sector has grown in the last decades, many rural communities […]
The agrifood sector constantly faces challenges that continue to evolve over time. This includes global warming, which decreases harvests and reduces crop quality. Consumers’ preference for fresher, appealing produce poses another challenge as it leads to increased use of pesticides, wasteful packaging, and greater food loss and waste. Recently, supply chains have presented major new […]
Food safety is essential for human health. Contamination and food-borne illnesses in food supply chains must be avoided as they harm consumers’ health. They also affect the business of food providers, causing consumers to withdraw their trust until the cause is identified and the problem solved. Recently, food supply chains have become more complicated as […]
Digitalization of SMEs is a critical step in building inclusive, productive economies and societies. While there has been an upward trend in the adoption of digital technologies by SMEs, the gaps between larger and smaller firms is wide (OECD, 2021). Promoting the digitalization of SMEs is therefore essential to improve productivity, innovation, and inclusion. Digital […]
