Malaysia’s decision to open its flagship National Training Week (NTW) to ASEAN citizens for the first time is being viewed as a strategic signal to regional and global investors that the country is doubling down on talent development to future-proof its economy.
Set to take place from 14 to 21 June 2025, NTW 2025 will feature over 65,000 free training programmes and high-impact learning events across Malaysia and online. The initiative targets five million participants with an estimated value of over USD600 million (RM2.5 billion), with a strong emphasis on industry-relevant skills and digital transformation.
Announcing the regional expansion of NTW, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said, “For the first time, we are extending these high-quality training opportunities beyond our borders. This is Malaysia’s investment in ASEAN – and in human capital.
“Our goal is to make ASEAN the most skilled region in the world through deeper, more meaningful cooperation,” continued Steven during his officiating speech at the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium (AHCDIS) held at Hilton Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (27 May).
Themed “Learning Beyond Borders”, the initiative aligns with the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025 and is expected to enhance the regional workforce pipeline—an increasingly critical factor for investors assessing long-term scalability in South East Asia.
For foreign investors eyeing Malaysia and the broader ASEAN market, NTW 2025 represents a government-backed push to elevate labour market competitiveness, improve skills portability, and create a more stable, skilled workforce across borders.
Coordinated by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), NTW 2025 is set to be the largest and most inclusive skills programme in ASEAN, featuring free access to courses in AI, digital transformation, green technologies, leadership, and soft skills. It is supported by global and regional players such as Microsoft, Udemy, Awantec, Alibaba Cloud, and leading Malaysian providers.
In a statement issued, HRD Corp noted that NTW 2025 “also marks Malaysia’s growing growing influence as a regional learning and development leader, ahead of other AYOS events such as the ASEAN Training Market Conference (July), ASEAN TVET Conference (August), and the Global Skills Forum (October), which will culminate in the ASEAN Forum of Manpower Ministers for Human Capital Development.”
With Malaysia targeting a 35 per cent skilled workforce by 2030, NTW 2025 is part of a broader talent ecosystem being built to support high-value industries, including digital tech, manufacturing, clean energy, and logistics.
Steven, in his statement at the AHCDIS, stressed that ASEAN must shift from being the world’s shop floor to becoming its innovation engine, powered by talent, partnerships and purpose. “Our long-term success depends on embracing the digital, green, and high-value industries of the future,” he added.
Investors and corporate partners interested in workforce partnerships or talent pipeline initiatives can learn more and register at NTW 2025’s official website. 