Ibrahim Yusuf

Ibrahim Yusuf (born 17 January 1946) is an Indonesian career diplomat who served as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2000 to 2002 and to Thailand from 2005 to 2008. Between his two ambasssadorial terms, Ibrahim was the chief of the foreign department's agency for policy assessment and development. He also served as Permanent Representative of UNESCAP.

Early life and education Ibrahim was born on 17 January 1946 in Tanjungbalai. An ethnic Minangkabau, Ibrahim graduated with a bachelor's degree in international relations from the Gadjah Mada University in 1970 and has a master's degree from the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication in Manila in 1983.

Diplomatic career Ibrahim's diplomatic career began in 1973. His first overseas assignment was at the embassy in Dhaka, where he was a junior officer in charge of information affairs. He was posted there for five years, from 1977 to 1982, until he was recalled to Indonesia's ASEAN national secretariat as a deputy director. After two years of duty, Ibrahim consecutively became the chief of politics at the embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria (1984–⁠1988) and Canberra, Australia (1990–⁠1995). He was also enrolled for a regular course at the National Resilience Institute during this period, which he completed in 1996. From 1997 to 2000, Ibrahim was the deputy chief of mission of Indonesia's embassy in Beijing. Ibrahim authored a number of articles on international relations in various publications. During the course of his ambassadorship, Ibrahim worked to attract tourism and investment through exhibitions. He also oversaw the setting up of an Indonesian trade center and consulate general in Abu Dhabi. By his last year in the United Arab Emirates, Ibrahim stated that trade between the country reached $1 billion annually. He also received the Civil Servants' Long Service Medal, 1st class, from the president in 2002. After two years of serving in the position, on 31 August 2004 Ibrahim handed over his position to Nicholas Tandi Dammen. He was then appointed as ambassador to Thailand on 7 October 2004 and presented his credentials to King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 7 March 2005. During his tenure, bilateral trade grew by an annual rate of 18%, with a similar upwards trend for investment. Ibrahim also initiated cooperations between higher education institutions in Thailand and Indonesia through an annual Indonesia-Thailand Rectors' Conference, as well as promoting Indonesia's tourism potential through exhibitions in different provinces in Thailand. Ibrahim vacated his position on 30 April 2008. For his role in developing bilateral relations, he received the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Order of the White Elephant on 2 May 2008 and from the Mae Fah Luang University in November 2008. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono then named him as special envoy for Palestine capacity building in July 2008.