Malaysia-France Economic Partnership Strengthens at CCIFM Gala, Highlighting RM20 Billion Trade Impact

The Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIFM) hosted its annual Gala Night at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, bringing together over 400 business leaders and government officials to celebrate the robust economic partnership between France and Malaysia. The event highlighted the significant French economic footprint in Malaysia, with over 600 French entities operating locally including approximately 300 subsidiaries and 300 entrepreneurs.

These French businesses collectively employ about 30,000 Malaysians and have contributed an accumulated turnover of RM20 billion to the Malaysian economy. The gala followed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Paris, which reaffirmed strong diplomatic and economic ties between both nations and paved the way for enhanced cooperation in trade, innovation, and sustainable development.

The event was attended by key government figures including YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry, alongside Datuk Zainal Amanshah and Mr Richard Fostier of CCIFM, and Mr. Olivier Sigaud from the French Embassy. A business delegation of 29 French companies organized by Business France and MEDEF International recently undertook a mission to Malaysia to further advance bilateral ties.

Major French corporations serving as key partners included TotalEnergies, Air Liquide, Airbus, Arkema, BNP Paribas, and L'Oréal, among others. The chamber emphasized Malaysia's position as the strategic hub for French businesses in Southeast Asia and its future role as a central gateway to the region. This success is built upon strong collaboration between French and Malaysian institutions including the French Embassy, Business France, MIDA, MATRADE, and InvestKL.

The evening featured the CCIFM Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to Malaysian-French business relations. TotalEnergies EP Malaysia received the Outstanding Achievements award for large companies, while Sophia Engineering Malaysia was honored in the SME category. Asiance won Entrepreneur of the Year, Cultural Impact received the Corporate Social Responsibility award, and Botanickel Sabah & the State of Sabah earned the France-Malaysia Smart Partnership recognition.

CCIFM demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by announcing the growth of its tree-planting program to 500 trees in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah. These reforestation efforts help restore biodiversity for wildlife while offsetting approximately 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The chamber's environmental initiative reflects the broader commitment to sustainable development within the Malaysian-French business community.

The gala featured performances by renowned artists including Jaclyn Victor, Douglas Lim, Psycusix, and Charity Goh, with guests enjoying signature cocktails and beverages by Monin and the Pernod Ricard group. Lucky attendees won prizes including a four-night stay at Club Med Phuket and Malaysia Airlines tickets to Paris. Event photos are available at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCAahG.

Strategically located in Kuala Lumpur's business hub, CCIFM operates two business centers with private offices and coworking spaces designed for French entrepreneurs and companies expanding into Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region. The chamber provides comprehensive services including company set-up, immigration assistance, accounting, and market research initiatives to facilitate business growth and investment opportunities between the two nations.