KUALA LUMPUR: French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Malaysia in less than three weeks, providing an opportunity to strengthen economic and business ties between the two countries.
Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin said Macron is expected to visit Malaysia from Nov 16-17.
Sim said the visit would provide fresh impetus for collaboration between Malaysian and French companies, building on decades of commercial relations and growing investment ties.
“President Macron will be visiting Malaysia in about three weeks.
“This is an absolute opportunity to foster relationships between Malaysian companies and French companies,” he said at the Malaysia-France gala dinner marking the 35th anniversary of the Malaysian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France Malaysia).
Sim said Malaysia and France have enjoyed more than 350 years of trade ties.
Over 300 French multinational companies and around 600 French business entities are now operating in Malaysia across various sectors.
He cited Airbus and Safran as key players in Malaysia’s aerospace ecosystem, while STMicroelectronics has established high-volume manufacturing operations in Johor.
On trade, Sim said negotiations for a Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were progressing, with the latest round of discussions held in Brussels in September.
He said Malaysia had also recently engaged with members of the European Parliament on the proposed agreement, signalling continued momentum in efforts to advance negotiations.
“These are very exciting times for Malaysia and the European Union, especially France. I think this is on the right track and in the right direction,” he said.
An FTA with the EU could provide further opportunities to expand market access and strengthen trade and investment flows between Malaysia and European businesses.
Meanwhile, French ambassador to Malaysia Marc Abensour said Macron’s upcoming visit would provide a significant opportunity to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership.
He said it would be the first visit by a French president to Malaysia in nearly a decade, following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Paris in July 2025 and French Minister for Foreign Trade Nicolas Forissier’s visit to Malaysia.
Abensour said France and Malaysia were increasingly aligned in their efforts to strengthen economic security and protect critical supply chains amid growing geopolitical uncertainties.
“At the core of this relationship is a partnership for sovereignty. In an era where trade, energy and technology are increasingly weaponised, economic security is paramount.
“We must secure critical value chains to strengthen our mutual resilience,” he said.
Abensour said France is now Malaysia’s second-largest European investor, with its investment stock growing by 190 per cent over the past decade, he said.
Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded RM22 billion in 2025, representing an 11 per cent increase, driven partly by a 40 per cent surge in French exports, particularly in aerospace.
He also highlighted Safran’s €113 million expansion of its facility in Negri Sembilan, which is expected to double its capacity.
He said French companies had established a significant presence in Malaysia, employing more than 30,000 people and supporting the country’s ambition to move up the value chain through high-technology industries and higher-skilled jobs.
Abensour said the presidential visit would also feature a business forum focusing on three strategic areas: digital sovereignty, aerospace and energy transition.
He said both countries could benefit from closer collaboration in developing diversified and resilient energy systems.
“Accelerating the transition to diversified, resilient energy systems is an urgent priority for both our nations, creating tremendous opportunities for French and Malaysian companies to jointly build the industries of tomorrow,” he said.
While acknowledging Malaysia’s economic resilience and projected growth of around five per cent in 2026 and 2027, he said reliance on crude-related subsidies carried significant fiscal costs.
Accelerating the transition towards diversified and resilient energy systems would therefore create opportunities for companies from both countries to develop new industries and technologies, he added.