France PM Jean-Marc Ayrault to visit Malaysia

Wisma Putra in a statement today said the visit would be part of his three-nation regional tour which included the Republic of Caledonia and South Korea, aimed at enhancing existing areas of cooperation and broadening into new spheres of cooperation.

On Monday, Ayrault is scheduled to have a restricted meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, followed by a bilateral delegation meeting to discuss bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest.

Prior to that, an official welcoming ceremony will be accorded on Ayrault, at Dataran Perdana in Putrajaya and an official dinner held at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, in the evening.

The statement said Ayrault’s visit to Malaysia would serve as a reaffirmation of the French government's commitment under the administration of President Francois Hollande to strengthen political ties between the two countries.

During the visit, Ayrault will be accompanied by his wife Brigitte Ayrault, External Trade Minister Nicole Bricq, Minister Delegate with responsibility for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Innovation and Digital Economy Fleur Pellerin, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Helene Conway-Mouret, as well as French members of parliament and a business delegation.

Ayrault is scheduled to visit the Sendayan Techvalley located in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan, where he will officiate a ground-breaking ceremony to launch a French investment project worth USD125 million (RM399.6 million).

He is also expected to address a Malaysia-France Economic Forum organised by the French embassy, here, in collaboration with the Malaysian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"The forum will provide an opportunity for Prime Minister Ayrault and the French business delegates to meet Malaysian businessmen to discuss and explore potential areas of business collaboration," the statement said.