293 to participate in ASEAN skills contest in Vietnam

A total of 293 candidates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to take part in an ASEAN skills competition in Vietnam, the Ministry of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) said on Thursday.

The 10th ASEAN Skills Competition is scheduled to be held in the Vietnamese capital on Oct. 19-29, under the theme "Skills - Our intrinsic values." Candidates at the contest will compete in 23 occupational skills.

Speaking at a press conference, Duong Duc Lan, director of the General Department for Vocational Training under MOLISA said the Vietnamese delegation with 51 candidates set the target to rank first in the competition.

Vietnam has strengths on skills ranging from mechanics, electronics, joinery, cabinetmaking, and web design among others, said Lan.

The ASEAN Skills Competition is held every two years, seen as an opportunity for the 10-member ASEAN to present its talents on skills and advanced technologies in the sector of vocational training.

The first event was organized in Malaysia in 1995 with the participation of four countries in the competition of six skills.

Vietnam first hosted the event in 2004, welcoming 153 candidates from eight countries in ASEAN. Vietnamese delegation topped the ranking in 2004 with 13 gold medals.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.