The Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), through its Centre for Political Studies and Economic Diplomacy (PSED), successfully organised the Economic Diplomacy Course from 28 to 30 April at Mercure Kuala Lumpur Trion Hotel. The course aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of Malaysia’s economic diplomacy landscape and strengthen their strategic and analytical competencies in navigating today’s global economic challenge and the critical issues in dealing with America’s tariffs. A total of 23 participants from grade 41-48 (SSPA: 9-12) joined the course from various Ministries, Agencies and State Secretary Offices from Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Sarawak.

Throughout the three-day programme, participants engaged with distinguished speakers from government, think tanks, and industry. Mr. S. Jai Shankar, Senior Director at MATRADE, opened the discourse with insights on Malaysia’s international trade promotion and nation branding strategies, highlighting the country’s strategic role as a global trading powerhouse. Dr. Sugumari S. Shanmugam, Senior Director at MITI, offered a comprehensive overview of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Malaysia’s preparations for its ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship, and the regional implications of shifting geopolitical dynamics. Complementing this was Mr. Qarrem Kassim, Analyst at ISIS Malaysia, who discussed key strategies within Malaysia’s bilateral economic diplomacy efforts, including its regional partnerships and foreign policy alignments.

The second day featured a practical session led by Mr. Amirullah Haji Abdullah, who introduced participants to the fundamentals of Return on Investment (ROI) evaluation, equipping them with tools to assess the impact and sustainability of economic and development ventures. This was followed by a high-level session on global trade conflicts by Prof. Dr. Sufian Jusoh from the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), who analysed the complexities of trade wars and their effects on Malaysia’s economic strategy.

On the final day, Mr. Amirullah returned to guide participants through strategic investment analysis, covering frameworks to systematically evaluate opportunities, risks, and long-term value creation in a global economic context. The programme concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony in recognition of participants’ active involvement.

Overall, the Economic Diplomacy Course delivered a timely and impactful learning experience, equipping participants with practical tools and updated insights on Malaysia’s trade positioning, investment strategies, and economic diplomacy in an increasingly complex global environment.

Prepared by:

Mr. Faris Shaharuddin

Centre for Political Studies and Economic Diplomacy (PSED)