The Kota Kinabalu French Friendship Association has instigated a program devoted to encouraging continuing cultural exchanges and increasing tourism between Sabah and France: A country whose presence in South East Asia has been historically prominent ever since colonial days.
“Borneo, and particularly Sabah, is an exotic place in the eyes of the world, and there is a need to attract French tourists to come here.” Said Veronique Chapeland, founding president of the KK French Friendship Association. “Not many French people know where Sabah is, thus we need some sort of collaboration to make them know about the state and we want to be able to welcome them,”
The Association opened a new office at Wisma Wanita last Sunday, with members attending to share perspectives and listen to French oratory. The Dean of Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language, Prof Dr Vincent Pang Ah Fook, has lauded the program, stating that the French language remains a popular undergraduate subject for University students in Sabah. The Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language looks set to continue working with the KK French Friendship Association, as well as a number of France-based academic institutions, well into the future.
Quotes derived from New Straits Times
"ExpatGo welcomes and encourages comments, input, and divergent opinions. However, we kindly request that you use suitable language in your comments, and refrain from any sort of personal attack, hate speech, or disparaging rhetoric. Comments not in line with this are subject to removal from the site. "
