Singapore brands explore business opportunities in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) recently hosted a delegation of Singaporean businessmen who are looking at ways to establish their brands in the country. 

PFA president Elizabeth “Yvette” Pardo- Orbeta said this is a testament that the Philippine market has grown very attractive to international brands, noting that PFA has been getting lots of inquiries of expansion opportunities in the country from as near as Singapore to as far as Sweden.  

“This also serves as a reminder for Philippine companies to raise their global competitiveness in light of the expected influx of foreign brands with the country’s improving economy.  The optimistic economic outlook has also inspired Philippine brands to set their sights in overseas markets, especially in Asia where the center of growth is gradually shifting,” Orbeta emphasized.

The Singaporean companies with the 11-member delegation included Vinum, Singapore’s top supplier of fine wines; Les Amis Group, a multi-brand company of fine dining restaurants, Senso Holdings, a group of Italian restaurants; Astons, a restaurant chain with three concepts to target different markets; Awfully Chocolate, a dessert concept with outlets in China, Hong Kong and Indonesia; Brotzeit, a German restaurant and beer concept with outlets in Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Shanghai; Chiropractic First, a chiropractic chain of clinics with outlets in Malaysia and Indonesia and Crestar Education Group, a provider of infant and child care services, preschool education and adult education and enrichment programs. 

The PFA and PRA members include Blooming Ventures Inc., Celine, Cinderella, Coolaire, Genie Tech, JVS Group (The Body Shop), Max’s Restaurant, Noble House Inc, Pancake House Group and uFranchise.

Liu Huimin, manager for Southeast Asia of IE Singapore, a government agency with the mandate to help Singaporean companies in their international expansion efforts which has partnered with PRA and PFA, said she has received positive feedbacks from the companies that participated in the business mission.

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