KUALA LUMPUR: French President Emmanuel Macron will make a two-day official visit to Malaysia from Nov 16 to 17.
Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin confirmed the visit at the Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIFM) gala night on Friday (Oct 30)
He said it comes in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to France last year.
French Ambassador to Malaysia Marc Abensour said the trip marks the first French presidential visit to the nation in nearly a decade.
"This visit will allow us to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, aligning Malaysia with our key regional commitments alongside Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam," Abensour said, highlighting joint priorities in defence, aerospace, energy transition, critical minerals, and digital infrastructure.
The announcement coincides with advancing talks on the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA).
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani previously stated that nearly 80 % of negotiations are complete, with Malaysia targeting a final agreement by June 2027.
Sim confirmed that the latest round of talks concluded in Brussels in September.
France is currently the second-largest European investor in Malaysia, with overall investment value expanding 190% over the last decade.
Approximately 600 French firms operate locally, including major multinationals such as Airbus, TotalEnergies, Michelin, and Decathlon, supporting over 30,000 jobs.
Bilateral trade between the two nations reached RM22.5bil in 2025. – Bernama
