KUALA LUMPUR: The government has called on the French business community in the country to enhance cooperation as Malaysia assumes the Asean chair next year to create a prosperous community, says Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong.
“Let’s work together to build stronger ties between Malaysia and France, not just in business but also in culture and people-to-people relationships,” he said at the Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry gala dinner.
He noted that Malaysia and France have built strong trade and investment ties over the past decades with a total of 600 French companies in Malaysia.
“Last year, France ranked as Malaysia’s third largest trading partner within the European Union (EU), with total trade amounting to RM16.72bil, accounting for about an 8% share of our total trade with the EU.
“French investments into Malaysia are diverse, ranging from electrical and electronics, infrastructure, aeronautics and defence, manufacturing, retail and services sectors,” he added.
Liew highlighted that the government had a mission to make Malaysians and the people of Asean richer with its population of 670 million today.
“While the world currently relies on the United States, Europe, and China to consume the goods and services produced globally, we should be brave enough to envisage a world with a few more consumer markets, namely Asean, South America, and the Middle East and Africa.
“To create these markets, the French companies in Malaysia or Asean will have to pay better salaries to Malaysian workers and the workers in the Asean region to enable them to become middle class.
“In exchange, the French companies benefit by creating a market for their products outside the United States, Europe and China,” he added. — Bernama
