Phl franchise to be featured in US Franchise Show

MANILA, Philippines -  Franchise Asia 2011 (FA2011) chair Bing Sibal-Limjoco will attend the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) 51st annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of a series of international and local shows to promote the Manila-hosting of Asia’s premier franchise event slated on Sept. 19-25 at the SMX Convention Center.

Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), organizer of FA2011, has embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign since last year to promote the event in many international shows to attract as many foreign delegates from all over the world.

“Franchise Asia 2011’s primary aim is to provide the platform to showcase to the world the best of Philippine and Asia franchise brands, as well as provide the gateway for international brands to enter the 600-million ASEAN market through the Philippines. This is parallel to PFA’s commitment to maintain the country’s position as the ‘franchise hub of Asia,’” Limjoco said.

A four-in-one event, FA2011 will feature the two-day international franchise conference with concurrent breakout sessions and seminars on Sept. 22 and 23; the one-stop shop three-day international franchise expo on Sept. 23-25; franchise seminars on Sept. 23-25; and, the twin meetings of the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) on Sept. 19-22, which will gather in Manila the most prominent names – from 42 countries and six continents – of the global franchising community.

The International Franchise Expo, with almost 10,000 square meters in exhibit area offering more than 500 booth spaces to world-class exhibitors is envisioned to be the biggest one-stop shop of international franchise brands and concepts. A showcase of country pavilions – from the US, Europe and Asian countries – will complement other features of the expo – food, retail and service franchise concepts; incubation and emerging concepts; winning business ideas from the academe; suppliers and business providers; and, licensing concepts – which is expected to attract more than 35,000 visitors.

Limjoco who also sits as PFA vice chair, added that this is the second time the Philippines, through the PFA, will host such a prestigious international event. The first one was held in 2001 which opened a floodgate of opportunities for the franchising and business sectors. PFA, the sole franchise association accredited by the WFC and the APFC, won the bid to host FA2011 in 2008 at the twin meetings of the two umbrella organizations in Malaysia.

Through its bilateral relations with the other member countries, PFA has the opportunity to participate and to promote in various international franchise shows. After Las Vegas, PFA will attend the WFC meeting in April which will be hosted by the German Franchise Association in Berlin, Germany. “We are doing our best to gather as much attendees to Manila as possible. This event is not only for PFA or the franchising sector. More importantly, it is the Philippines as a whole that we are promoting,” Limjoco said.

Part of Limjoco’s itinerary in Las Vegas is the franchise investment seminar for the Filipino community in Nevada, a project of the PFA and the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles through its Philippine Trade and Investment Center representative Archimedes Gomez. The Business and Franchise Opportunities Seminar, scheduled on Feb. 15 at the Marbeya Building on Sahara Avenue, will provide Filipino expatriates the opportunity to know more about franchise investments. “This is part of PFA’s commitment to promote a culture of entrepreneurship and wise investments among our overseas Filipinos and their families back home,” Limjoco said.