KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) — Innovative Malaysians who are capable of exploring new fields can contribute to the nation’s competitiveness and sustainable future, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem.

“Innovation does not need to be limited to just technological advances, but can also involve significant changes to the working environment which save cost, time and energy without compromising on quality,” he said when opening the Petronas International Human Capital Summit 2013 (PIHCS 2013).

The minister added that the current scenario in the oil and gas industry demands human resource practitioners to strive harder and venture further to remain innovative and creative, hence innovation should be placed as an important barometer.

Corporations can help the government achieve the human capital development targets for a sustainable future, he said, citing Petronas’ evolution into a top corporate learning hub for industry leaders through such institutions as the Petronas Leadership Centre, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia Maritime Academy Sdn Bhd and Institut Teknologi Petroleum.

Themed “Redefining Human Capital for a Sustainable Future”, PIHCS 2013 serves as an avenue for human resource practitioners from the industry to share their insights and experiences in managing and developing the workforce.

The three-day inaugural conference attracted more than 500 participants including from India, Japan, Australia, Sudan, the United States and Europe.

Meanwhile Petronas President and Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas said the theme could not be more appropriate, coming at a pivotal time in the industry when global energy needs are surging amid increasingly significant resource challenges.

“The industry is rife with both unprecedented challenges and opportunities which necessitate a new kind of ingenuity, skills and talent.

“The cornerstone to all this is the human capital and the role it plays in the sustainable growth of this industry,” he said.

— BERNAMA