Malaysia's Global Skills Forum 2025: A Milestone in Human Capital Development

On October 22, 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted an important event for global human capital: the Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025. This significant gathering took place at the Shangri-La Hotel and is recognized as a benchmark in the international arena for developing talent and skills, coinciding with Malaysia's presidency of the ASEAN and the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025.

The forum was a collaborative effort of various sectors, including governments, industries, and communities worldwide, emphasizing the crucial role of the private sector in driving transformation and innovation in workforce development. It aimed to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and strategies essential for addressing the rapid changes in the labor market.

In his opening remarks, Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, underscored the unique potential of the ASEAN region, highlighting how apt skills can convert the demographic dividend of a youthful workforce into a source of creativity and economic well-being. "With the right competencies, this youth dividend can become a catalyst for innovation and prosperity, not just for Southeast Asia but for the entire global economy," he stated.

A notable aspect of the forum was the commendation of Steven Sim Chee Keong, Malaysia's Minister of Human Resources, by Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Houngbo praised Sim's dynamic leadership in advancing ASEAN’s skills agenda as well as his central role in the region's workforce development. He expressed gratitude for the Malaysian government's dedication towards empowering the regional workforce and highlighted the vital contributions Malaysia has made as ASEAN's president.

Sim conveyed that workers are the foundation of economic progress, stating, "Workers are value creators in our economy. The achievements of workers over the past century must not only be safeguarded but must also continue to evolve, particularly amidst new dynamics in the global economy." He promoted the GSF as a central pillar of the ASEAN Skills Year, emphasizing that it brings together essential stakeholders including governments, employers, workers, and educational institutions from across the region.

The theme of the GSF 2025 was "The Transformative Role of the Private Sector in Skills Development: Driving Innovation and Impact." The forum addressed significant challenges in workforce development and shared best practices for overcoming them. With nearly 600 delegates in attendance, discussions centered on co-developing agile and people-focused strategies in response to fast-paced technological advancements, labor market changes, and global disruptions. It reinforced the idea that skills are crucial to enabling opportunities, enhancing competitiveness, and ensuring sustainability for both businesses and societies.

A key moment during this momentous event was the commitment pledged by Malaysia towards developing skills for the future workforce, not only for ASEAN nations but for the global community. The aim was to strengthen collaboration and empower communities to ensure a resilient, sustainable, and competitive Malaysia within ASEAN.

The ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 culminated in a gala dinner titled "Colors of Success - A Celebration of Achievements." This celebratory event showcased the milestones achieved through its seven emblematic platforms. The Global Skills Forum 2025 set a precedent for ongoing innovation and collaboration in skills development that will shape the future workforce not only in Malaysia but throughout the ASEAN region.