Franchise expo puts RP in global franchise map

MANILA, Philippines - The Franchise Expo 2010 is successfully putting the Philippines in the global franchise map as the event draws the participation of big foreign players and industry associations in Asia and beyond.

Aside from the current crop of international franchise brands on the Philippine market, new foreign franchisors occupy a significant number of the expo’s more than 330 exhibit booths, giving prospective franchisees a wider array of lucrative businesses to invest in.

They include such foreign brands as Baskin Robbins, Bistro Holdings, Caruso Restorante Italiano, Kushi-Tei, Q-dees, Subway, and Trung Nguyen; and foreign industry groups like the Korean Chamber, Thai Embassy, and India and Indonesia franchise associations, among others.

Even the guests of honor include foreign dignitaries such as Italian Ambassador Luca Fornari, Domestic Business Development and Enterprise Registration Director Dede Hidayat of the Indonesian Trade Ministry, and US expert and Synergy Franchise Group president Christopher Simnick.

This development was attributed by Franchise Expo 2010 chairman and Fruit Magic president Dr. Alan Escalona to the Philippines’ strategic location and its young English-speaking consumer market of 90 million Filipinos, making the country a regional center for franchising.

“These (features of the local market) make the (Franchise 2010) Expo the gateway for the entry of foreign brands into the (Asian) region,” Escalona said in his welcome remarks that preceded the opening ceremonies at the SMX Convention Center last Friday.

The expo, which runs up to yesterday (July 18) at the SMX, provides a sneak preview of the Franchise Asia 2011 slated in Manila on Sept. 21-25 next year.

Leading the global franchise industry in opening the Franchise Expo 2010 were Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Edcel Custodio, Go Negosyo chairman Joey Concepcion, and Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) chairman emeritus Samie Lim, chairman Robert Trota, vice chair Bing Sibal-Limjoco, and president Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta, with the Binibining Pilipinas beauties and the foreign guests adding color and excitement to the business festivities.

Constituting the exhibits are food and non-food franchises, with various others showcased in the international pavilion, I.T. digital section, Franchise Village, and special areas for new business ideas under incubation, micro/ food carts and emerging concepts, women entrepreneurs, suppliers and allied services, sponsors, partner organizations, academe, and media partners.

The expo is expected to attract some 30,000 visitors eager to join the fast-growing franchise industry, which can post up to 30 percent growth in sales this year and has proven to offer the highest rate of success, whether in good or bad times.

The expo includes seminars and such other exciting activities as business networking, Negosem sa Franchise 2010 by Go Negosyo, launch of the book “Franchise Your Way to Business”, and the staging of the “Franchise Power Fashion Show” with the franchisors and the PFA officers themselves as models.

The expo is organized by PFA and managed by Global Link MP Events.