KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) – Malaysia's Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Timor-Leste's National Institute for Workforce Development (INDMO) to develop the country's first National Training Index (NTI).
HRD Corp, an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), said the NTI it pioneered is a strategic mechanism for evidence-based workforce planning and inclusive economic growth.
The MoU was signed during the 2nd Timor-Leste International Skills Week at the Dili Convention Centre from Sept 15 to 19, officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, in support of the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025.
“The NTI is a comprehensive mechanism that measures national training activity, identifies skills gaps, and provides actionable policy recommendations to strengthen workforce readiness.
“Its adaptation for Timor-Leste marks a historic moment in regional knowledge transfer, setting a new benchmark for future ASEAN cooperation,” said HRD Corp in a statement.
According to the statement, HRD Corp and INDMO will establish a joint brand as long-term strategic partners in skills transformation to facilitate research cooperation, explore the implementation of a training levy system, and exchange training programmes, educational content, and professional expertise through a shared training marketplace.
“Aligned with AYOS 2025, this initiative bridges regional talent and sets a new benchmark for skills transformation, thereby strengthening ASEAN's collective vision of cultivating a highly-skilled, mobile, and globally-connected workforce,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, HRD Corp’s chief strategy officer, Dr Rony Ambrose Gobilee, said that Malaysia's experience in developing an inclusive and sustainable Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem has proven that inclusive skills development is fundamental to national growth.
“Through this expertise-sharing with Timor-Leste, we can not only strengthen bilateral ties but also reinforce ASEAN's shared vision for the future workforce.
“Timor-Leste is taking bold strides in its workforce transformation. Malaysia, through HRD Corp, is proud to support this journey by helping to develop a competitive, inclusive and globally-connected workforce. This will benefit not only Timor-Leste but also the ASEAN region and the world,” he said in his speech at the event.
Rony Ambrose added that leveraging Malaysia’s expertise and experience in human capital development is a crucial step in building a competitive, inclusive, and future-ready workforce for Timor-Leste.
In addition to supporting AYOS 2025, the cooperation also positions Timor-Leste strongly ahead of its hosting of the 10th WorldSkills Asia General Assembly in 2026.
-- BERNAMA
