Human resource development is considered as one of the most important aspects to ensure sustainable development in the APEC region in the context of the liberalization of trade and investment.

Since the founding of APEC, IIST has been participating in the Capacity Building Network (CBN) meetings at the APEC HRD Working Group as a representative organization of Japan in the field of managerial human resource development. .IIST has been playing a major role in APEC HRD Working Group by engaging in various policy discussions on issues related to managerial human resource development and initiating as well as implementing a number of projects.