France ready to support AirBorneo’s growth through Airbus expertise

Awang Tengah (second right) handing a welcoming token to Abensour (centre) with others at the courtesy call following the opening ceremony of Sarawak Global Supply Chain & Sourcing 2026 at a hotel in Kuching on Sept 29, 2026. Source: UKAS

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 29: France is ready to support AirBorneo’s development by drawing on Airbus’ more than 50 years of experience and collaboration in Malaysia.

According to a report from the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), the French Ambassador to Malaysia, Marc Abensour, said Airbus’ extensive experience in Malaysia, particularly in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), could contribute to the development of AirBorneo.

“Of course, in the aeronautics sector, we discussed how France can support the development of AirBorneo, including by leveraging Airbus’ presence in Malaysia.

“Airbus has a history of more than 50 years of cooperation in Malaysia, covering various areas such as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training, as well as the development of sustainable aviation fuel.

“We also discussed potential areas of cooperation with AirBorneo,” he said when met by reporters after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan following the opening ceremony of Sarawak Global Supply Chain & Sourcing 2026 at a hotel here today.

Meanwhile, he said France and Sarawak also discussed potential cooperation between the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and UPM Sarawak on forest mapping.

He said accurate and reliable forest mapping could provide a basis for developing activities in the timber and construction industries, including efforts to establish an international reference for low-carbon tropical building construction.

On renewable energy, Abensour said discussions also covered potential involvement by French companies such as EDF, which is interested in exploring hydroelectric projects and grid management.

He added that another potential area of cooperation involved French companies such as Air Liquide and Axens in developing projects to produce SAF. — DayakDaily