The Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry hosted its annual Gala Night at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, bringing together over 400 business leaders and government officials to celebrate the strengthening economic ties between France and Malaysia. The event highlighted the significant French economic presence in Malaysia, with over 600 French entities operating locally, including approximately 300 subsidiaries and 300 entrepreneurs that collectively employ about 30,000 people and have contributed RM20 billion in accumulated turnover to the Malaysian economy.
This year's gathering gained particular significance following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Paris, which reaffirmed the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between both countries. Building on this diplomatic momentum, a business delegation of 29 French companies organized by Business France and MEDEF International undertook a mission to Malaysia to advance bilateral 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, Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, alongside French diplomatic representatives.
The Chamber's leadership emphasized Malaysia's position as the strategic hub for French businesses in Southeast Asia, serving as a central gateway to the region. This success stems from strong collaboration between French and Malaysian institutions including the French Embassy, Business France, French Trade Advisors, La French Tech, and Malaysian agencies such as MIDA, MATRADE, InvestKL, Talent Corp, and MDEC. The partnership extends beyond commerce to include significant environmental initiatives, with CCIFM's tree-planting program now reaching 500 trees in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah, offsetting approximately 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually while restoring biodiversity.
Six companies received CCIFM Excellence Awards recognizing exceptional contributions to Malaysian-French business relations. TotalEnergies EP Malaysia won Outstanding Achievements for Large Company, while Sophia Engineering Malaysia received the SME category award. Asiance was named 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. Sunway Le Cordon Bleu received the Image of France award for promoting French culture and education. Major corporate partners supporting the event included industry leaders such as TotalEnergies, Airbus, L'Oréal, and Safran.
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. The evening concluded with lucky guests winning a four-night stay at Club Med Phuket and Malaysia Airlines tickets to Paris. Event photos are available at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCAahG. Located in Kuala Lumpur's business hub, CCIFM operates two business centers offering private offices, coworking spaces, and comprehensive business support services for French companies expanding into Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region.
