KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — Malaysia is the top destination for France's foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in Asia and ranks 10th worldwide, said French Ambassador to Malaysia Axel Cruau.
Both nations have enjoyed a strong relationship founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared interest in innovation and sustainability.
“Both our countries have all the assets needed to become partners of reference in the global economy through our capacity for innovation, our openness to trade, and our shared commitment to addressing major climate and technological challenges.
“This is reflected by the 300 subsidiaries of French companies and the 300 Malaysian companies created and managed by French entrepreneurs who have chosen Malaysia to develop their activities,” he said in his welcoming speech at the France-Malaysia Business Forum today.
Cruau also noted Malaysia is France’s fourth-largest trading partner in Asean, while French companies were the fifth-largest FDI in Malaysia in 2024 and the leading European investors in the country.
In 2024, it was reported that bilateral trade between Malaysia and France totalled RM15.95 billion (US$3.63 billion), with RM6.26 billion (US$1.49 billion) recorded between January and May this year.
He added that the France-Malaysia Business Forum today illustrated that France will remain open to business and is a good industrial and logistical base to access European and African markets.
“In a world where economic benchmarks are undergoing profound transformation, it is more necessary than ever to build lasting relationships and create shared value in the long run,” Cruau said.
