The Chamber
New Chairman Strengthens Business Ties between Malaysia and France
CCI France Malaysia appoints its new chairman, Datuk Zainal Amanshah replacing its outgoing Chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.
SM Nasarudin was the Joint Group Executive Chairman of Naza Group of companies and has contributed 10 dynamic years of chairmanship from 2009-2019.
Our new chairman Datuk Zainal Amanshah was officially introduced to the French business community during the annual Back to Work Cocktail organized by the chamber, which took place on the 9th October at Sofitel Damanara.
During the event, over 200 guests were welcomed by Mr. Gilles Waeldin, President of CCIFM, in the presence of H.E. Frederic Laplanche, French Ambassador to Malaysia, showcasing the strength and network of the French Business Community in Malaysia
There are about 500 French companies in Malaysia, comprising over 300 subsidiaries of French companies and some 150 French entrepreneurs whom have chosen Malaysia as their principal place for business, employing nearly 30,000 people with a total turnover of 20 billion Ringgit Malaysia. Their contributions to Malaysia are not only on the capital investment side but more importantly on the expertise and know-how transfer to the Malaysian local industry thanks to the business-friendly environment that Malaysia has to offer to both the French and international investors. CCIFM strongly believes that Malaysia has remained a favorable and competitive place, acting as a regional hub for French companies to develop their regional business development in Asia Pacific.
The close bilateral relationship between the Chamber and the various Malaysian government institutions have played a key role in this successful business relationship. Meanwhile, the Alliance Française, Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur, the French Embassy and its Economic and Commercial Department as well as the French Trade Advisors jointly with our Malaysian counterpart such as MIDA, MATRADE, INVEST KL, TALENTCORP and MDEC are working together with CCIFM as a winning team.
Datuk Zainal joins CCIFM as its new chairman. He is currently Vice President, Client Account Management, Asia Pacific for AECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, which he joined this year after having completed an eight-year tenure as the CEO of InvestKL. During his leadership of InvestKL, the agency successfully attracted more than 80 large multinational corporations to set up regional hubs in Greater Kuala Lumpur and brought in a total of more than RM12 billions of committed and approved investments, which led to the creation of 12,000 regional jobs.
Datuk Zainal also worked closely with CCIFM to ensure assistance was always given to French investors and during his tenure he played an active role on the development of CCI FRANCE MALAYSIA. He officiated the launching of our third business center in KLCC area, end of last year and the signing of the memorandum of understanding between CCIFM, TALENTCORP and INVEST KL to facilitate the collaboration on The Malaysia Global Talent Programme.
The presence and experience of Datuk Zainal will further strengthen the ties between Malaysia and France.
