ASEAN emphasises digital skills, AI literacy and responsible technology use in workforce development.
Mr San Lwin, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, delivered pre-recorded remarks at the opening of the 2026 ASEAN+3 Human Resource Development Forum in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on 3 November 2026. Addressing the Forum’s theme, “From Skills to Jobs: Building AI-Ready Workforces Across ASEAN+3,” he highlighted ASEAN’s priorities in digital competencies, artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and responsible technology use to support labour-market resilience.
The 2026 ASEAN+3 Human Resource Development Forum focused on preparing workforces for evolving employment demands and the growing role of artificial intelligence in the workplace. The event was held in Seoul and brought attention to human resource development priorities among ASEAN Member States and their ASEAN+3 partners, comprising China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
In his remarks, Mr San Lwin outlined the importance of equipping workers with the digital competencies required to respond to changes in the labour market. He highlighted AI literacy as an essential priority in workforce development, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly relevant to learning and employment.
He also underscored the need for responsible AI adoption, emphasising its potential to enhance learning outcomes and support decent work. His remarks highlighted the importance of ensuring that technological developments contribute positively to education, skills development and employment opportunities.
Addressing cooperation on human resource development, the Deputy Secretary-General encouraged initiatives that complement ASEAN-led priorities. He stressed that cooperation should take into account the different levels of digital readiness and labour-market conditions among ASEAN Member States.
The Forum’s theme reflected the need to connect skills development with employment opportunities, with particular attention to preparing workers for workplaces increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. The discussions also provided a context for considering how digital competencies and responsible AI use could contribute to workforce preparedness and labour-market resilience.
Mr San Lwin’s participation through pre-recorded remarks highlighted ASEAN’s priorities in developing AI-ready workforces, with digital literacy, responsible technology adoption and cooperation tailored to Member States’ circumstances identified as key considerations in human resource development.
Source: ASEAN
