Held under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and in conjunction with the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the ASEAN Training Market Conference (ATMC) took place on 15 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together over 500 participants including policymakers, industry leaders, training experts and development partners.
Organised by the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia through HRD Corp and supported by the ASEAN Secretariat and ILO, the conference focused on strengthening ASEAN’s training supply, closing skills gaps and promoting innovation for a future-ready workforce.
Key highlights:
- Ministerial and High-Level Remarks: Opening addresses by key figures to underscore regional commitment to skills transformation.
- Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Abdul Rahman Mohamad – Deputy Minister of Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia
- H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn – Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat
- Tuomo Poutiainen – Deputy Regional Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, International Labour Organization
- Keynote Session: L&D Strategist, Dr. Markus Bernhardt delivered insights on digital transformation in training and how AI-powered solutions can drive inclusive and scalable learning.
- The Big Idea Sessions:
- Technology-Enabled Learning by IBM Asia Pacific
- Reskilling & Upskilling of the ASEAN Workforce by ILO
- Future-Ready Training Supply Ecosystem by HRD Corp
- Plenary and Panel Discussions: Regional and international leaders from Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea and Malaysia explored public-private collaboration, policy alignment and training innovation to close skills gaps and enhance employability.
- Interactive Networking: Sessions such as ‘The Art of Gathering’ fostered deeper engagement among participants, encouraging dialogue across borders and sectors.
ATMC 2025 concluded with a shared vision – to reimagine ASEAN’s training systems through technology, inclusion and collaboration. The event reinforced the region’s commitment to bridging skills gaps, empowering talent and building a resilient ASEAN workforce equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.
