KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (KESUMA), together with its agency, the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), successfully hosted the ASEAN Training Market Conference (ATMC) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. This event reinforced ASEAN's commitment to equipping its workforce with future-ready skills amid rapid economic transformation. 

Held at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, the ATMC brought together over 600 participants, including national and regional training providers, employers, policymakers, and representatives from business organisations across ASEAN. This conference is one of seven flagship initiatives under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025. 

Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Human Resources, The Honourable Dato' Sri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, who officiated the event, highlighted that strengthening the training providers and trainers' ecosystem is crucial to securing ASEAN's future competitiveness.

"Across ASEAN, we are witnessing the disruptive power of automation, artificial intelligence, the digital economy and the green transition. These forces are transforming industries, displacing roles and redefining the skills that our people need in order to thrive."

"To transform our economies, we must first change how we train our people. Malaysia is honoured to drive this agenda under our ASEAN Chairmanship, ensuring that our training systems are industry-relevant, inclusive and future-ready." he said.

Under the theme "Empowering ASEAN's Training Supply: Bridging Skills Gap, Innovation and Collaboration for a Future-Ready Economy," the ATMC focused on strengthening the region's training ecosystems to meet emerging demands. Key discussions centred on enhancing the quality and capacity of training providers, bridging persistent skills mismatches, expanding access to learning opportunities and highlighting innovation in training and education delivery.

Among prominent regional leaders contributed their insights at the conference are Dr. Markus Bernhardt, Learning and Development Strategist for the AI-Powered Workforce; Yue Yean Feng, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and University Programs at IBM Asia Pacific and Mary Kent, Skills and Employability Specialist at International Labour Organization (ILO).

HRD Corp's Chairman, Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid in his speech mentioned that the ATMC aims not only to strengthen the training supply in Malaysia but to build a cohesive ecosystem that supports ASEAN's growth.

"We are delighted and proud to feature a diverse set of countries showcases and regional innovations throughout the programme, today. The collaboration and partnerships formed here will ensure that our workforce remains competitive, adaptable and resilient in facing global shifts. Together, we can elevate the quality and reach of our training markets to better serve our people and economies" he concluded.

Under the leadership of Minister of Human Resources Malaysia, The Honourable Mr. Steven Sim Chee Keong, Malaysia continues to steer the ASEAN agenda toward creating a more skilled, mobile, and future-ready workforce. 

Also present were Secretary General of KESUMA, Datuk Azman Yusoff; HRD Corp's Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Rony Ambrose Gobilee; and Chief Programmes Officer, Soffian Mohammed Amin. 

Earlier this year, Malaysia's National Training Week (NTW) under AYOS 2025 recorded an unprecedented 3.7 million participants across the region with 73,000 courses available for free until year end.

Looking ahead, KESUMA and HRD Corp will continue to champion regional collaboration through upcoming key events such as the ASEAN TVET Conference, the National Human Capital Conference & Exhibition 2025, the Global Skills Forum and the ASEAN Forum of Manpower Ministers for Human Capital Development.

For more information on AYOS 2025 and upcoming regional programmes, please visit www.aseanyearofskills.org.