KUCHING: France is looking to deepen cooperation with Sarawak by supporting the state’s ambition to become a regional hub for energy transition and clean technologies.
Ambassador of France to Malaysia, Marc Abensour, said his second visit to Sarawak in less than six months reflected the importance France attached to its partnership with the state.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today, Abensour said both sides discussed a wide range of areas for cooperation, including renewable energy, aviation, hydropower, semiconductors and advanced technologies.
“We fully measure the strategic vision delivered by the Premier to use local natural resources to make Sarawak a hub in terms of energy transition and also a clean tech hub.
“It is an ambitious vision that we want to proactively support,” he told reporters during a press conference after the meeting at the Satria Pertiwi Complex here today.
Abensour said the discussions also covered aeronautics, air connectivity and AirBorneo’s development plan, as well as opportunities to expand cooperation in hydropower and electricity.
He said several French companies had already established a presence in Sarawak or were looking to expand their investments in the state.
“Thinking, for instance, of TotalEnergies, which is now a very important investor in Sarawak, but also EDF, Electricité de France.
“I know that both companies have expressed interest in the cascading dam projects in Sarawak to develop the potential of hydropower,” he said.
Abensour added that Air Liquide already had a biomethanol project in Sarawak and was keen to contribute to the future production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
“So, you see we have some key players already present or who want to increase their presence in Sarawak,” he enthused.
He said the discussions also touched on critical raw materials and advanced technologies, including semiconductors, with the Premier sharing Sarawak’s development roadmap in those sectors.
“We have a broad and ambitious agenda. Every time I come to Sarawak, I see that clearly there are a lot of assets.
“Now it’s our responsibility to mobilise them so that we can materialise all these partnerships that we have been discussing or expand the already existing partnerships,” he added.
Abensour also announced that he would return to Kuching in late September for the second edition of the Franco-Australian Centre for Energy Transition (FACET) forum.
The forum will bring together Swinburne University Sarawak and France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to strengthen collaboration in energy transition research.
“It will be the opportunity for me to come again and continue to pursue our shared agenda between France and Sarawak,” he said.
