PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic) has embarked on a five-day official working visit to France from today until May 14, in conjunction with his participation in the Global Water Summit (GWS) 2025, and to explore opportunities for collaboration in the field of energy transition.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the opening plenary session of the summit on May 13, themed Delivering the Economics of Water.
GWS serves as a platform to outline Malaysia’s strategic direction for the water sector, aiming to position it as a catalyst for sustainable development and national economic competitiveness.
"This will further establish the water sector as an economic hub by 2040, in line with the Water Transformation Roadmap 2040 (AIR 2040),” his ministry said in a statement on Saturday (May 10).
Fadillah’s keynote is titled "Transforming Mindsets, Transforming Approaches: Malaysia’s Vision for Sustainable Water Management."
The ministry said that the invitation was extended in recognition of Malaysia’s progress as a model country in water governance, particularly its efforts to promote water reuse as an alternative source for industrial use and its commitment to expanding sanitation services to low-income communities.
On May 12, Fadillah is also set to undertake a benchmarking visit to a nuclear power plant operated by Electricité de France (EDF), as part of the government’s initiative to explore nuclear energy as a component of Malaysia’s future energy mix to ensure long-term energy security.
In addition, on May 13, he is scheduled to participate in discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions with six key French ministries and agencies involved in nuclear development and governance.
These include the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, Electricite de France (EDF), National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ANDRA), French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR), International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN), and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).
Fadillah is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on France’s Minister for Energy and Industry, Marc Ferracci, to explore potential collaborations in energy transition and strengthen bilateral ties.
Potential cooperation areas include energy security, policy-making, regulatory frameworks, legislation, and identifying best practices to overcome shared challenges.
This official visit to France is part of Malaysia’s broader effort to strengthen its global investment appeal and foster deeper bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.- Bernama
