TOULOUSE, FRANCE – Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, arrived safely in Toulouse, France, on Sunday afternoon for a two-day official business visit. His trip aims to strengthen Sarawak’s international ties, especially in the aviation and economic sectors.
The Premier touched down at 3.30 pm local time and was warmly welcomed by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin. Also present were key Sarawak government officials, including Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki (State Secretary), Dato Sri Saferi Ali (State Attorney General), and Dato Sri Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel (Deputy Secretary of Economic Planning & Development).
One of the main highlights of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Malaysian aircraft maintenance company AIROD and French aerospace firm Satys. The official signing ceremony took place at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Toulouse at 6.30 pm on the same day, marking a new milestone in Malaysia-France aerospace collaboration.
On the second day, the Premier and delegation visited the ATR aircraft final assembly plant in Route de Bayonne. ATR is known as one of the world’s top manufacturers of turboprop aircraft. The group was briefed on the detailed aircraft installation process and later toured the ATR Headquarters and Customer Experience Studio to understand the company’s innovation and customer engagement strategy.
The visit then proceeded to the Airbus Campus in Blagnac, where the delegation joined a networking lunch hosted by Airbus International President Wouter van Wersch. This was followed by a guided tour of the Airbus Customer Showroom and the A350 aircraft final assembly plant, giving the Sarawak leaders a close look at one of the most sophisticated commercial aircraft in the world.
The official visit is expected to pave the way for future investments, aerospace collaborations, and knowledge sharing between Sarawak and France, particularly in high-value industries and technical sectors. — UKAS EDITION
