Jakarta, 18 June 2024: Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) recently assigned Dato' Hairil Yahri Yaacob to represent Malaysia on the Governing Board of ERIA. This appointment is expected to strengthen the relationship between Malaysia and ERIA, especially in light of Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship in 2025.

On 26 September 2023, Dato' Hairil was appointed as the Secretary-General at MITI. He has served the country since 1995, gaining extensive experience in economics, trade and investment policymaking, trade negotiations, industrial development, and public administration. He has held several critical positions within MITI, including Deputy Secretary-General of International Trade, Deputy Secretary-General of Investment, and Senior Director of the Industrial Policy Division.

As a trade expert, Dato' Hairil led the office in Washington DC, United States, as the Minister Counsellor (Economics) from 2011 to 2017. From 2005 to 2008, he served as the Counsellor (Economics) at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. These invaluable experiences have helped him advance Malaysia's interests and oversee Malaysia's engagements in major trade platforms, including the WTO, APEC, and ASEAN.

Dato' Hairil had the privilege of steering the APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) during Malaysia's hosting of APEC in 2020. He was also involved in numerous trade negotiations, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)/Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Currently, he is leading Malaysian negotiators for several bilateral and regional FTA negotiations.

Dato' Hairil earned a Master's in Strategy & Diplomacy at the National University of Malaysia. He also graduated from the University of Kent at Canterbury, United Kingdom, with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and International Relations.

The Governing Board is the decision-making body of ERIA and consists of the Secretary-General of ASEAN and representatives from 16 countries.

Photo source: Berita