From 25 August to 1 September 2024, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) organised the 2024 Knowledge of Diplomacy (KOD) course for foreign and Thai diplomats. The course was inaugurated by Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also gave a presentation on Thailand’s Foreign Policy. Mrs. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Director of the DVIFA, extended a warm welcome and hosted a dinner in honour of the participants.

                The 2024 KOD course aims to be a platform for sharing Thailand’s knowledge and best practices as well as policy implementation in the field related to diplomacy, while also seeking to strengthen networks among Thai and foreign diplomats. This year, the course focuses on economic diplomacy, as a tool to foster partnerships for inclusive sustainable development.

                The training programme featured briefings on topics including Economic Diplomacy, Thailand’s Economic Development and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Driving Thai Economy with AI, the advancing the SDGs, and Human Rights. The KOD participants also had field visits to Laem Chabang Sea Port and Thailand Digital Valley in Eastern Economic Corridor of Thailand as well as Kubota Farm, an agri-innovation promotion center of Siam Kubota. Moreover, they also shared and exchanged views on their respective countries’ economic foreign policy.         

                The 2024 KOD course was participated by 28 diplomats, comprising 21 foreign diplomats and 7 Thai diplomats. Since 2013, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs has already conducted the KOD course nine batches, with 154 diplomats from 72 countries participating in the programme.