CCI France Malaysia Gala Night 2025 Celebrates Strengthening French-Malaysian Economic Partnership

The Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry hosted its Gala Night on November 13, 2025 at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, celebrating the Malaysian-French business community and its vital contributions to the robust bilateral trade between France and Malaysia. This year marked a new milestone in Malaysia-France relations, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Paris reaffirming the strong diplomatic and economic ties between both nations, paving the way for enhanced cooperation in trade, innovation, and sustainable development.

Building on the momentum of this visit, a business delegation of 29 French companies, organized by Business France and MEDEF International, undertook a mission to Malaysia to further advance bilateral ties. The French economic footprint in Malaysia continues to grow, with over 600 French entities operating locally, including approximately 300 subsidiaries and 300 entrepreneurs. These entities collectively provide employment to about 30,000 people and have contributed an accumulated turnover of RM20 billion to the Malaysian economy.

Over 400 guests were welcomed by 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 night was further graced by the presence of Guest of Honor, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia. The event featured key partners including TotalEnergies, Air Liquide, Airbus, BNP Paribas, and L'Oréal, among other prominent French companies operating in Malaysia.

Selected member companies were honored with the CCIFM Excellence Award, recognizing individuals, companies, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional excellence and innovation in their respective fields. The award recipients included TotalEnergies EP Malaysia for Outstanding Achievements – Large Company, Sophia Engineering Malaysia for Outstanding Achievements – SME, Asiance for Entrepreneur of the Year, Cultural Impact for Corporate Social Responsibility, Botanickel Sabah & the State of Sabah for France-Malaysia Smart Partnership, and Sunway Le Cordon Bleu for Image of France.

The Chamber's sustainability commitment was demonstrated through its four-year tree-planting program, which has now grown to 500 trees in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah. These reforestation efforts help restore biodiversity for wildlife while also offsetting approximately 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. The evening 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.

With a long-standing history of dynamic trade relations, France and Malaysia continue to exemplify the strength and resilience of their economic partnership. The Gala Night served as a platform to reflect on this enduring relationship, celebrate shared achievements, and look ahead to new opportunities in bilateral trade. The Chamber is confident about Malaysia's standing as the strategic hub for French businesses in Southeast Asia and its future role as a central gateway to the region. More event photos can be viewed at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCAahG.