Asian Productivity Year – 1970

The Asian Productivity Year 1970 commenced on January 5, marking the beginning of a year-long collaborative effort by member countries of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) to enhance productivity awareness, emphasize the role of productivity in economic growth, and promote dynamic productivity actions in both public and private sectors to accelerate economic development across Asia. The slogan “Prosperity through Productivity” encapsulates the essence of this initiative.

India, as a founding member of the APO, has embraced the Asian Productivity Year 1970 with a comprehensive ten-point program devised by the National Productivity Council. This program encompasses crucial aspects of productivity, including measurement techniques, fostering a culture of quality and reliability, educating top management on productivity techniques, addressing fuel-related challenges, and providing training in advanced engineering techniques such as electronic data processing and supervisory development.

As highlighted by the President of India in his message for the Asian Productivity Year, India is committed to sharing its extensive experiences in economic development with other member countries, offering practical assistance in developing productivity programs wherever needed. India’s remarkable success in enhancing agricultural productivity, as acknowledged in the Rockefeller Foundation Report on food production, serves as a testament to its capabilities in this regard.

The hope expressed by the Prime Minister of India is that Asian countries, emerging from centuries-old stagnation, will progress towards greater productivity and strengthen economic cooperation among themselves. This sentiment is widely shared and underscores the importance of collective efforts in driving regional development.

The Indian Postal and Telecommunications Department takes pride in supporting the Asian Productivity Year 1970 by issuing a special postage stamp coinciding with the inauguration of the Asian Productivity Congress in Tokyo. This congress serves as a platform for top productivity experts from Asian countries to exchange ideas, share experiences, and craft a Productivity Declaration for the entire Southeast Asian region, fostering collaboration and progress.