Plans to Develop and Improve Diplomatic Staff in Countries Important to Singapore's Economic Development
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant’s inquiry on enhancing the quality and economic expertise of senior diplomatic staff to protect Singapore's interests in a deglobalising world. Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan stated that the MFA Diplomatic Academy provides professional training on economic, finance, and trade issues through workshops and briefings by experts. To deepen understanding of whole-of-government priorities, the Ministry utilizes officer secondments between agencies to facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas and policy knowledge. Officers also receive comprehensive briefings from finance and trade agencies before postings and collaborate overseas with experts from MTI, EDB, ESG, and MAS. These initiatives ensure diplomatic staff are well-equipped with the necessary competencies to manage complex technical issues in trade and investment.
Transcript
9 Mr Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding key countries which Singapore has partners in for Singapore's economic development, what steps is the Ministry taking to improve the quality and breadth of its senior diplomatic staff in these countries to ensure that they are well equipped with the knowledge of economic, financial and trade issues in a deglobalising world so that Singapore’s interest remains paramount at all times.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The Ministry provides professional training and development at various stages of our officers' careers. This is to ensure that they have the competencies, skill sets and knowledge on various issues needed to operate in a complex, ever-changing global environment. MFA Diplomatic Academy organises developmental opportunities including briefings, workshops by senior diplomats, political office holders and subject matter experts on management and policy-related topics including economic, finance and trade issues. Some of our officers are seconded to relevant Government agencies and relevant agencies also second their officers to MFA, to deepen their understanding of the whole-of-Government (WOG) priorities, hone their competencies and facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas.
In preparation for an Overseas Posting, our officers will be briefed by the finance, economic and trade agencies. While overseas, our officers work closely with experts from MTI, EDB, ESG and MAS on more technical issues in areas of trade and finance to ensure that Singapore's interests are upheld. Our officers also collaborate closely with the EDB and ESG representations in key overseas markets on trade and investments issues.