KOTA KINABALU: France is the latest European Union (EU) country looking forward to  strengthening bilateral economic ties with Sabah.  

France Ambassador to Malaysia Axel Cruau said Sabah has excellent potential in the  oil and gas industry, forest conservation and tourism sector that French investors can  look into. 

"We have a French company opening the Club Med Borneo soon, and we are very  excited about it," Cruau said when meeting Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji  Haji Noor at Menara Kinabalu near here today. 

Club Med Borneo, a 17-hectare eco-friendly 400-room beachfront resort in Kuala Penyu,  is expected to open by next year. 

Cruau, who assumed office in February this year also noted that Sabah's economy has  further potential with the shifting of Indonesia's capital to Kalimantan. 

The Chief Minister said Sabah, under its Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan,  welcome investors and tourists to the state.  

"We wish to see more French tourists coming to Sabah. Sabah has much to offer with  our rich bio-diversity, especially the world heritage Mount Kinabalu and diverse cultures,"  he said. 

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