APO and United Nations University Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Cooperation on AI

Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (left), and APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata (right)

On 11 March 2026, APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata held a bilateral meeting with Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (UNU) and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, at the APO Secretariat in Tokyo. During the meeting, the two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration between the APO and UNU in the field of AI.

The MOU establishes a framework for academic and policy cooperation between the two organizations, including joint research, capacity-building initiatives, policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange activities related to AI governance, responsible AI, and AI-driven productivity and innovation.

In his opening remarks, Secretary-General Dr. Indra noted that AI is one of the APO's focus areas under its Vision 2030 and highlighted the APO Genuine AI Action (GAIA) initiative as the organization's first major AI platform. He explained that APO GAIA is intended to bring together experts from different sectors and countries to exchange knowledge and help shape practical guidelines and standards on AI from ethical, productivity, and other perspectives.

Professor Marwala welcomed the partnership, noting that UNU, as the only UN agency headquartered in Asia, feels a strong affinity with the APO's mission to strengthen productivity and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region. Drawing on his own background as an engineer and AI researcher, he emphasized AI's significant potential to improve productivity, including through applications such as predictive maintenance and production planning.