APO Report Highlights Role Of Energy Efficiency In Boosting Productivity
KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has released the APO Productivity Outlook 2026, examining the relationship between energy efficiency and productivity performance, as well as its implications for sustainable development across its 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a statement, APO Secretary-General, Dr Indra Pradana Singawinata said energy efficiency must be viewed as a core component of productivity strategy.
“As highlighted in the APO Productivity Outlook 2026, improving how energy is used allows economies to achieve more with less while advancing both economic performance and environmental sustainability. This is essential for building resilient and future-ready productivity systems across the region,” he said.
The report highlights that improving energy efficiency enables economies to produce more output with less energy input, positioning it as a key driver of both economic performance and environmental sustainability.
As energy demand rises and climate challenges intensify, strengthening energy efficiency has become increasingly important to maintain competitiveness and resilience.
Based on cross-economy analysis, the report finds that the impact of energy efficiency on productivity varies across income levels and sectors, highlighting the need for tailored policy approaches that reflect each economy’s structural conditions and stage of development.
In addition, it also highlights institutional practices from the Republic of Korea and Japan, demonstrating how strong energy data systems and indicator frameworks can support reliable measurement and benchmarking, evidence-based policymaking, and regional comparisons.
The report also outlines key policy directions to support productivity-enhancing energy transitions, including promoting technological innovation, strengthening institutional coordination, advancing digitalisation, and expanding green finance and incentive mechanisms.
APO also recommends that member economies integrate energy efficiency into productivity strategies under the Green Productivity framework.
-- BERNAMA