The ASEAN TVET Conference 2025, a flagship initiative under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS), opened today at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur with a resounding call for ASEAN nations to future-proof their workforce through advanced digitalisation and green transition strategies.
Jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Skills Development Fund Corporation Malaysia (PTPK), both under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), the two-day conference convened over 1,500 policymakers, educators, industry leaders, and TVET providers from across the region. The event serves as a dynamic platform to accelerate collaboration and innovation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), positioning it as a cornerstone for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Themed “Advancing Digital and Green Transformations through an Inclusive and Future-Ready TVET System,” the conference spotlighted 57 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge training solutions, technologies, and sustainable practices designed to equip ASEAN’s workforce for the evolving demands of the global economy.
Malaysia Leads the Charge
Officiating the event, The Right Honourable Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chairman of the National TVET Council, emphasized the urgency of aligning TVET with market realities.
“This conference must spark policies that meet market needs, make employers true partners and fast-track cutting-edge learning,” he stated. “This is how ASEAN will shape a workforce that is inclusive, future-ready and poised to lead the global TVET industry.”
He proposed the formation of an ASEAN Green and Digital Skills Taskforce to drive measurable regional progress.
Skills as the New Currency
The Honourable Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources, underscored the enduring value of practical skills in an age of automation.
“In an age when AI can do the thinking, the world still needs those who can build, repair, operate, supervise and organise,” he said. “Skills training is the currency of the day.”
He advocated for a unified certification framework and mutual recognition across ASEAN to unlock regional mobility and competitiveness.
Joining virtually, His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, urged deeper partnerships between training institutions and industry to accelerate green skills development.
“Our efforts must ensure we lead, not follow, in the global green economy,” he warned.
Representing the International Labour Organization (ILO), Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, reinforced the transformative power of TVET:
“Skills training must be aligned to these transitions, with emerging technologies embedded into learning. No one can be left behind.”
What’s Next for AYOS 2025
The momentum continues with upcoming AYOS events including:
- National Human Capital Conference & Exhibition (NHCCE)
- Global Skills Forum (GSF)
- ASEAN Forum of Manpower Ministers for Human Capital Development (AFMM-HCD)
These initiatives reflect Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to bold collaboration, stronger industry engagement, and embedding sustainability into the region’s skills ecosystem.
