ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia held a virtual consultation meeting with France on 3 November 2022, chaired and moderated by ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Munir Majid, with the presence of Ms Virginie Bioteau, Chargée d’Affaires and Mr Michel Cywinski, the Economic Counsellor of Embassy of France in Malaysia.

Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Munir Majid believed there is plenty more that France could do to make Malaysia the springboard to ASEAN, especially in Industry 4.0.

“France could also use Malaysia as a base to expand education and training in the region, especially in high technology,” he added in his opening remarks.

Another ASEAN-BAC council member Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon also said: “Further links with France through investment and trade will progress and with the ending of the pandemic, it is hoped that tourism, which is an important sector for both countries, will continue to grow.”

ASEAN-BAC Malaysia council member Raja Singham also urged Malaysian businesses to work with France to leverage growth in the area of new technologies and biotechnology. Drawing inspiration from Paris and how it was a fashion capital in the world, he suggested Malaysia could be an opportunity for the French.

“Malaysia could become the launchpad for France’s fashion industry into ASEAN and the gateway to launch ASEAN fashion to an international market,” Raja Singham elaborated.