State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has brought together human resources professionals from 13 state-owned enterprises for a dedicated forum aimed at strengthening workforce development and sharing experiences across the public corporate sector.
The “HR Insight” forum was held at STELCO’s State Utility Skills Academy in K. Thulusdhoo, with 35 representatives from state-owned companies taking part.
The programme was inaugurated by Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) President Mohamed Nizar and STELCO Managing Director Dr. Ali Azwar.
The forum was organised as a platform for SOEs to exchange practical knowledge, discuss common human resources challenges and learn from approaches already being implemented across different companies.
Speaking at the event, Nizar said greater collaboration between state-owned companies could improve institutional decision-making by allowing them to draw on each other’s experiences rather than addressing similar challenges independently.
He described the forum as an important platform for sharing best practices and said strengthening such cooperation among SOEs is among the objectives of the PCB.
STELCO Managing Director Dr. Ali Azwar, meanwhile, placed employee development at the centre of his address, arguing that an organisation’s most valuable asset is ultimately its workforce.
He said the true value of a company should not be viewed only through the financial assets recorded on its balance sheet, but through the people whose knowledge and skills allow those resources to be used effectively.
According to Azwar, capable employees are responsible for turning available resources into results and ultimately increasing the value of an organisation.
He highlighted two areas he believes should receive particular attention from human resources departments: employee wellbeing and long-term capacity development.
Azwar said companies should look beyond job titles and assigned responsibilities when managing their workforce and develop a better understanding of employees’ broader needs.
“Prioritising employee sentiment and well-being is essential for talent acquisition and retention, and sharing corporate experiences on this front benefits all institutions,” he said.
The second priority, according to Azwar, is ensuring employees are prepared not only for the jobs they perform today but also for the changing requirements of the future.
“We must train staff not just for today’s requirements, but equip them with future-ready skills to adapt to changing environments by facilitating opportunities for professional growth,” he said.
STELCO has recently placed increased emphasis on professional and technical training for its workforce.
Earlier this month, the company launched four Certificate Level 3 programmes in collaboration with Maldives Polytechnic, with 76 employees from different departments and regional powerhouses enrolling in the August 2026 intake.
At the launch of those programmes, Azwar said investment in employee training should be viewed as an investment in the wider development of the country, as improvements in workforce capability translate into stronger services for the public.
The latest HR Insight forum expands that focus beyond STELCO by bringing together representatives from multiple state-owned companies to exchange experiences on workforce management and development.
The programme also comes as the government pursues wider reforms across the SOE sector, including restructuring companies, improving financial and operational efficiency and strengthening corporate governance.
During his remarks, Azwar thanked President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for placing emphasis on SOE reform and said the administration has introduced policies aimed at addressing longstanding operational challenges faced by state-owned companies.
With 35 representatives from 13 companies participating, STELCO said the HR Insight forum is intended to encourage greater cooperation and knowledge-sharing as SOEs work to develop skilled, adaptable and sustainable workforces.
