IDFR was first established under the Prime Minister’s Department on 1 July 1991 following a Cabinet decision dated 6 March 1991. It was officially launched on 12 August 1991 by then Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Its aims were to provide basic training for future diplomats of Malaysia and several selected developing countries, as well as to provide follow-up training for those officers already in the diplomatic service. On 27 March 2004, IDFR officially became part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia.