Malaysia , Thailand Expand TVET Collaboration To Strengthen Highly Skilled Workforce

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Thailand are exploring the potential to expand cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to strengthen the technical and highly skilled workforce of both countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He emphasised that TVET cooperation, particularly in the field of agriculture, can increase employment opportunities, strengthen human capital development, and support economic growth in both countries.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development and Chairman of the National TVET Council, said this to Bernama after paying a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, at the Government House today.

He said, in addition to the agricultural sector, skills training in manufacturing, digital technology, as well as student and lecturer mobility programmes are also being prioritised in this collaboration.

“TVET fields are important for equipping rural youth with relevant technical skills to face the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR),” he said.

He added that one of the pilot programmes that will be the starting point for TVET cooperation between the two countries is the "training for trainers" programme.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said that in his meeting with Anutin, the two leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the halal industry, including the development of the halal value chain, investment in halal products, and joint export opportunities.

“Malaysia welcomes Thailand’s interest in exploring the halal sector more comprehensively, given the growing global demand,” he said.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is on a three-day working visit to Thailand, also paid a courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

In 2024, Thailand was Malaysia's seventh largest trading partner globally and the third largest among ASEAN member states, with total trade amounting to RM114.56 billion (US$25.03 billion).

From January to October 2025, total bilateral trade reached RM98.19 billion (US$22.79 billion), compared to RM95.52 billion (US$20.79 billion) during the same period in 2024.

-- BERNAMA