James Kon
Youth should be equipped with skills and a mindset to prepare them for the future of employment. They should also take up entrepreneurship to open up economic opportunities, said Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad during the 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY XII) held via video conference yesterday.
He also said the Bruneian authorities have been facilitating direct engagement between policymakers and youth through dialogues, survey, town hall sessions, National Youth Congress and Brunei Young Leaders Convention
The minister said the Brunei Darussalam Mental Health Action Plan 2022-2025’s Strategy 1 emphasised on the development of work-life-balance policy for all workplaces as well as increasing whole-of-nation and community awareness on mental health issues.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi also emphasised that ASEAN initiatives and programmes should work towards future-ready youth in an inclusive ecosystem. He urged stronger collaboration among agencies, partners and youth representatives to identify and address issues while also incorporating feasible policies that add value to work plans and youth programmes.
Malaysian Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli bin Abdul Halim chaired the meeting. ASEAN ministers responsible for youth affairs and their representatives as well as the Deputy-Secretary General of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) were present.
The ministers looked forward to the publication of the 2nd ASEAN Youth Development Index and noted the progress of the implementation of ASEAN Work Plan on Youth 2021-2025 in education; health and well-being; participation and engagement; employment and opportunity; and ASEAN awareness, values and identity.
The ministers also tasked the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) to conduct the mid-term review of the Work Plan 2021–2025 and its impact to youth development and empowerment in the region. The ministers also urged the senior officials to plan Post-2025 ASEAN cooperation on youth.
During the meeting, ASEAN member states ministers in charge of youth adopted the Joint Ministerial Statement of the 12th AMMY XII and Joint Ministerial Statement of the 8th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Youth (8th AMMY+3).
Acting Permanent Secretary (Youth) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah also participated.
