On 13 July 2023, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), gave a keynote speech via online platform during Session 7: “Enhancing Human Resource Development in the Subregion” of the 2023 IMT-GT High-Level Panel Forum: Learning From the Past and Shaping IMT-GT Cooperation in Turbulent Time organized by the Center for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) from 12 to 13 July 2023 at Borobudur Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of Development Promotion and Coordination Division, and Mr. Kraichok Arunpairojkul, Minister-Counsellor of the Human Resources Development Division, also represented TICA at the Forum.

In her pre-recorded video remarks, Director-General Ureerat pointed to key challenges facing the Working Group on Human Resource Development (WGHRD) in building a future-ready workforce for the IMT-GT subregion. These included the ever-changing needs of industry and  business as well as supporting the achievement of IMT-GT Vision 2036.  She highlighted 3 important issues to be addressed by the WGHRD.  First, a competitive, productive and resilient workforce must be equipped with the right mindset and relevant skills through lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling, as well as the embrace of new technologies.  Second, the coordinating and monitoring role of CIMT must be enhanced to create more synergies between the WGHRD and other Lead Focus Areas and Enablers. Human resources lie at the heart of every industry and business in driving its success.  Lastly, she urged the WGHRD to accelerate its work to keep up with labour market trends.  Finalizing the draft Quality Manual Handbook in Welding would provide a good example to develop similar quality manual handbooks for other professions.  Moreover, the success of IMT-GT can be scaled up in the wider ASEAN region.

During the panel discussion of Session 7, the representatives from the Indonesian Professional Certification Authority (BNSP), the Ministry of Manpower Indonesia, and the Ministry of Human Resource Malaysia presented their countries’s progress on human resource development and exchanged their views and suggestions for IMT-GT future cooperation. Currently, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are working on labour skill development and relevant measures to facilitate labour mobility within the subregion which will contribute to sustainable development.