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This movement, which was promoted mainly by the Asian Productivity Organization ( APO ) established in 1961, succeeded in instilling a sense of autonomy in Asian people and establishing business skills such as kaizen (daily efforts at ingenuity) and other production management skills. In the 44 years since 1961, APO has implemented more than 5,400 capacity-building and other projects, including the dispatch of experts, various training courses, and seminars. A total of approximately 43,000 people have participated in these projects.