KUALA LUMPUR, 8 October 2026 (The Capital Post) – Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup received a courtesy call from French Ambassador to Malaysia Marc Abensour on Wednesday (7 October) to discuss stronger bilateral cooperation in critical minerals management and environmental sustainability.
The meeting, held in conjunction with the International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2026, also served as a key preparation ahead of the French President’s official visit to Malaysia in November.
Both sides discussed efforts to elevate bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, with a focus on developing competitive and sustainable approaches to critical minerals management.
Discussions also covered improvements to environmental and mining approval processes, the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies for forest conservation and the establishment of a dedicated working group to monitor the implementation of joint initiatives.
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Through technical expertise sharing, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) aims to strengthen Malaysia’s critical minerals governance while ensuring sustainable development aligned with global environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
Also present were NRES Secretary-General Datuk Wira Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin, Deputy Secretary-General Dato’ Khalid Mohamed, Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) Director-General Datuk Zamri Ramli, as well as senior ministry officials and representatives from the Foreign Ministry and French Embassy.
According to a post on the official Facebook page of Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES), the engagement reflects continued efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation with France in critical minerals development and environmental sustainability – The Capital Post
