KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, November 05, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry / CCI France Malaysia (CCIFM) hosted its Gala Night on 4th November 2024 at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, honouring the Franco-Malaysian business community's contributions to the thriving bilateral trade between the two nations. France solidified its position as Malaysia's third-largest trading partner within the European Union (EU), with bilateral trade reaching €5.28 billion or MYR26 billion in 2023. In this vibrant context, Malaysia is set to officially assume the Chair of ASEAN on 1 January 2025, and CCIFM wishes its success in this leadership role.

The French economic footprint in Malaysia continues to expand, with 600 French entities established, including around 300 subsidiaries and 300 entrepreneurs. Collectively, they contribute to the local economy by employing approximately 30,000 people.

Over 400 guests were welcomed by Datuk Zainal Amanshah and Mr Richard Fostier, Honorary Chairman and President of CCIFM, respectively, alongside H.E. Axel Cruau, Ambassador of France to Malaysia. The night was further graced by the presence of Guest of Honour, YB Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia.

The key partners of the night were Stellantis, Airbus, Air Liquide, Arkema, BNP Paribas, Club Med, Engie, Generali, L'Oréal, Michelin, Nazsoft Tech, Safran, STMicroelectronics, TotalEnergies, Veolia, Société Générale, Ayvens, Cegos, Cetim, CMA CGM, and JLL.

With a rich history of vibrant trade relations, France and Malaysia continue to demonstrate the strength and resilience of their economic partnership. The Gala Night offered a platform to reflect on their longstanding ties, celebrate current successes, and envision the future of bilateral trade relations. The Chamber is confident that Malaysia remains a strategic and competitive destination for French businesses, acting as a key regional hub for their growth and expansion throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

This success story is largely attributed to the well-established relationships between French and Malaysian institutions, exemplified by the effective collaboration of The French Embassy and its Economic Department, Business France, French Trade Advisors, La French Tech, MIDA, MATRADE, InvestKL and other state investment promotion agencies, Talent Corp, and MDEC with CCI France Malaysia.

Selected member companies were honoured with the prestigious CCIFM Excellence Award, which recognizes individuals, companies, and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding excellence and innovation in their respective fields. These contributions have significantly advanced the growth and success of Franco-Malaysian business relations, fostering greater collaboration and prosperity.

The following companies were awarded during the CCIFM Malaysia-France Gala Night 2024:
• The award for "Outstanding Achievements-Large Company" was granted to Decathlon
• The award for "Outstanding Achievements-SME" was granted to Nazsoft Tech
• The award for "Entrepreneur of the Year" was granted to Ineotech
• The award for "Corporate Social Responsibility" was granted to Club Med
• The award for "France-Malaysia Smart Partnership" was granted to Engie Services Malaysia x UAC Berhad
• The award for "Image of France" was granted to Les Bouchons

An electric atmosphere set the stage for unforgettable performances by celebrated artists, including the "King of Malaysian Comedy" Douglas Lim, "Malaysia's Queen of Jazz" Shiela Majid, talented soprano Charity Goh, Zeppo Youngsterz, and others.

Guests indulged in specialty cocktails and beverages sponsored by Monin and the Pernod Ricard group, signature desserts crafted by one-Michelin-starred chef Darren Chin, and left with fantastic lucky draw prizes from Air France and Club Med.

To mark this special occasion, CCI France Malaysia proudly initiated the planting of 400 trees—one for each guest—at the Gala Night as part of their CSR initiative. These trees, planted by APE Malaysia, their on-ground partner, in the beautiful Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary will be cared for over the next four years. This initiative reflects CCIFM's commitment to preserving Malaysia's biodiversity and strengthening its ecosystem for future generations.

VIP Guests:
YB Liew Chin Tong — Deputy Minister, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)
H.E. Axel Cruau — Ambassador of France to Malaysia
Datuk Zainal Amanshah — Honorary Chairman, CCIFM
Richard Fostier — President, CCIFM
Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja — Deputy Chief Executive, MIDA
Daniel Gonzalez — Senior VP & COO ASEAN, Stellantis

See more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBPWof

The goal of CCIFM is to foster a dynamic business ecosystem between its members and the Malaysian business landscape, facilitating meaningful connections and actively supporting the growth of trade and investment opportunities. Strategically located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's business and transportation hub, CCIFM offers 2 business centers with fully equipped private offices and coworking spaces. Designed for French entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational companies expanding into Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region, CCIFM provides business center services, company set-up and registration, immigration and visa assistance, accounting, payroll and commercial services such as organizing prospective missions, partner searches, and various market research initiatives.

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