Malaysia marked a milestone in global workforce development today with the hosting of the Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025 at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur. Held in conjunction with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship and the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the Forum convened leaders from government, industry and civil society to accelerate skills transformation across the region.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (KESUMA) through HRD Corp, and supported by the ASEAN Secretariat, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), GSF 2025 served as a premier platform for dialogue, collaboration and action on the future of skills.

Officiating the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi underscored ASEAN's youth dividend and the role of skills in unlocking regional and global prosperity.

"With the right skills, this youth dividend can be transformed into a source of innovation and prosperity, not just for Southeast Asia, but for the global economy," he said.

ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo praised Minister Steven Sim's leadership in advancing AYOS 2025, calling him "one of the region's most dynamic and visionary labour ministers." He reaffirmed the ILO's support for Malaysia and ASEAN in building a future-ready workforce.

Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong emphasised that workers must remain central to economic progress. He said, "Workers are creators of value in our economy. The gains for workers over the last 100 years must not only be safeguarded, but we must continue to progress, especially in view of new dynamics."

Themed "The Transformative Role of Private Sector in Skills Development: Driving Innovation and Impact", GSF 2025 explored how governments, employers and training institutions can co-create agile, human-centred strategies to meet the demands of rapid technological change and evolving labour markets. With nearly 600 delegates in attendance, the Forum reinforced skills as the currency of opportunity, competitiveness and sustainability.

A defining moment of the event was Malaysia's pledge to strengthen collaboration, nurture future-ready skills and empower communities across ASEAN and beyond, affirming its commitment to a resilient, inclusive and competitive regional workforce.

AYOS 2025 concludes with the Gala Dinner "Colours of Success: A Celebration of Achievements", honouring the impact of its seven flagship platforms.