ISLAMABAD: The National Productivity Organization (NPO), in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Tokyo, on Monday inaugurated the 4-day international workshop on “Promoting Productivity through Digitalization”.
The four-day event, running from October 6 to 9, brings together experts, policymakers, and practitioners from across the Asia-Pacific region to explore the transformative role of digitalization in driving productivity.
The workshop features 19 overseas participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, Vietnam and Pakistan, fostering regional cooperation and shared learning.
CEO NPO Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhary welcomed participants and the chief guest, Chairman/Incharge of the FPCCI Capital Office, Karim Aziz Malik.
He emphasized the growing importance of digitalization as a driver of productivity while also addressing pressing challenges such as cybersecurity, infrastructure gaps, and environmental sustainability.
Alamgir Chaudhary expressed the need for collaborative efforts, enabling policy frameworks, and inclusive innovation to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are widely shared.
The workshop is led by Programme Officer APO Tomoyuki Yamada along with a distinguished panel of international resource persons, including Innovation Provocateur, Alpha Catalyst, Malaysia Dr Suraya Sulaiman, Partner YCP Vietnam Company Limited Yuichi Ota and Founder & CEO DPL (Pvt) Ltd Syed Ahmad.
Yamada said that participants will learn practical insights and case studies on leveraging digital tools, including AI, to boost organizational efficiency and productivity.
Over the course of the workshop, key themes will include: policies and strategies for digital transformation, emerging digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI), organizational change management, case studies and best practices from various sectors.
The objective of the workshop is to introduce the concept and significance of digitalization in enhancing productivity, demonstrate how digital tools and technologies, including AI, can improve efficiency within organizations, and share best practices for planning and implementing digital transformation initiatives.
As an outcome, the participants are expected to leave the workshop with practical skills to plan and implement digital transformation projects, a solid understanding of key technologies, including AI, Insights into policies and frameworks supporting digital productivity, the tools to foster a digital-first, productivity-driven culture in their organizations.
Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Karim Aziz Malik noted that while digitalization offers tremendous potential, it also poses challenges such as disparities in cybersecurity preparedness and sustainability concerns.
To address these, governments and organizations must invest in infrastructure, promote education reform, and establish a robust regulatory framework. The event provides a platform to discuss these issues and explore effective responses.
