The Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI France Malaysia) hosted its Gala Night on November 13, 2025, at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, bringing together the Malaysian-French business community to celebrate their significant contributions to bilateral trade between France and Malaysia. This event occurred against the backdrop of strengthened diplomatic relations following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Paris, which has paved the way for enhanced cooperation in trade, innovation, and sustainable development.
The French economic presence in Malaysia continues to expand significantly, with over 600 French entities operating locally, including approximately 300 subsidiaries and 300 entrepreneurs. These organizations collectively employ about 30,000 people and have generated an accumulated turnover of RM20 billion for the Malaysian economy. The recent business delegation of 29 French companies organized by Business France and MEDEF International further demonstrates the momentum in bilateral economic relations. More information about Business France can be found at https://www.businessfrance.fr.
The gala welcomed over 400 guests, including Datuk Zainal Amanshah and Mr Richard Fostier, Honorary Chairman and President of CCIFM respectively, alongside Mr. Olivier Sigaud, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of France in Malaysia. The event was honored by the presence of YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia. Key partners supporting the event included major French corporations such as TotalEnergies, Air Liquide, Airbus, BNP Paribas, L'Oréal, Safran, and Veolia, among others.
A highlight of the evening was the CCIFM Excellence Award ceremony, which recognized outstanding contributions across various sectors. TotalEnergies EP Malaysia received the Outstanding Achievements – Large Company award, while Sophia Engineering Malaysia was honored in the SME category. Asiance received the Entrepreneur of the Year award, Cultural Impact was recognized for Corporate Social Responsibility, Botanickel Sabah & the State of Sabah received the France-Malaysia Smart Partnership award, and Sunway Le Cordon Bleu was awarded for Image of France. These achievements underscore the diverse and innovative nature of French-Malaysian business collaborations.
The chamber's commitment to sustainability was evident through its ongoing reforestation efforts, with 500 trees now planted in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah as part of a four-year tree-planting program. This initiative not only helps restore biodiversity for wildlife but also offsets approximately 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, demonstrating the business community's environmental responsibility.
CCIFM's strategic location in Kuala Lumpur's business hub provides two business centers with fully equipped private offices and coworking spaces designed to support French entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational companies expanding into Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region. The chamber offers comprehensive services including company set-up and registration, immigration and visa assistance, accounting, payroll, and commercial support such as organizing prospective missions and partner searches. Event photos from the gala are available at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCAahG.
This strengthened partnership positions Malaysia as the strategic hub for French businesses in Southeast Asia, serving as a central gateway to the region. The collaboration between French and Malaysian institutions, including the French Embassy, Business France, MIDA, MATRADE, InvestKL, Talent Corp, and MDEC, continues to drive mutual economic benefits and foster a dynamic business ecosystem that supports the growth of trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.
