ASEAN GREEN SKILLS FAIR 2025: Malaysia Leads ASEAN’s Green Workforce Transformation Through Skills, Jobs, and Innovation

(From left) Group Chief Executive Officer of Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), Thomas Mathew, Secretary-General of Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof and Head of the Employment Insurance System Office Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), Dato’ Haji Asri bin Ab Rahman. 

PUTRAJAYA, 28 AUGUST 2025 – Malaysia is reaffirming its commitment to building a sustainable and future-ready workforce with the launch of the ASEAN Green Skills Fair 2025, organised by the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) through its agency and strategic think tank, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp).

As Chair of ASEAN 2025 under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability", Malaysia is placing skills, jobs, and innovation at the centre of regional cooperation by embedding sustainability into education, training, and workforce development.

With ASEAN economies moving rapidly towards green and digital transitions, the ASEAN Green Skills Fair 2025 serves as a regional meeting ground for collaboration on skills development that will enable local talent to thrive in the changing world of work.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has warned that by 2030, about 60% of youth globally may lack the skills needed to participate in the green economy. Secretary-General of KESUMA, Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof, said Malaysia is addressing this challenge by linking apprenticeship and internship schemes with green industries, giving young people early exposure to future-oriented skills and positioning them as the first generation of a green workforce.

Secretary-General of KESUMA, Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof during his launching speech

"This is why KESUMA, through TalentCorp, has brought the ASEAN Green Skills Fair to life. It is a place where governments, industries, training providers, and workers converge, and where the skills that will define ASEAN’s future are demonstrated — renewable energy, sustainable design, eco-innovation, energy efficiency, and waste management," he said.

TalentCorp Group Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Mathew, stressed that TalentCorp’s role is to work with ministries and international partners to ensure green skills are systematically embedded into training and education.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad Mr Thomas Mathew during his welcoming remarks

"Through this ASEAN Green Skills Fair, we are turning strategies into opportunities. Policymakers, employers, academics, and youth are here to learn, to share, and to build partnerships. As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia shows that leadership means preparing not only for ourselves, but for the region as a whole," he said.

The ASEAN Green Skills Fair supports KESUMA’s ongoing establishment of the ASEAN Green Jobs Regional Centre of Excellence (AGJCOE), which aims to drive green investment, job creation, and skills development across the region.

The ASEAN Green Skills Fair 2025 also aligns with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap and the target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, while embedding sustainability principles into workforce planning and development.

Over three days, the Fair is expected to attract 5,000 attendees, including university students, jobseekers, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs), government officials, training providers, and delegates from across ASEAN.

Participants during the ASEAN Green Skills Fair 2025

Participants will be able to explore cutting-edge innovations, career pathways, and collaborations shaping ASEAN’s green economy. Showcases include electric vehicles by BERMAZ, solar-powered hydroponics, and community-driven sustainability initiatives.

Highlights of the programme include panel sessions with Siemens Energy, PETRONAS, PwC, MGTC, and PERKESO, alongside practical workshops on composting, edible gardening, and creative upcycling led by partners such as Biji-Biji Initiative and Kaki DIY.

The ASEAN Green Skills Fair 2025 represents a decisive step in equipping ASEAN’s workforce with the skills and knowledge required for the green transition, ensuring the region is prepared to meet both environmental commitments and future employment demands.

Organisations interested in shaping Malaysia’s green workforce are encouraged to work with TalentCorp to build partnerships that connect talent, industry, and education in support of a sustainable future.

Issued by Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)

29 August 2025