Limjoco leads Phl delegation to Indonesia franchise show

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino brand and franchising expert Ma. Alegria “Bing” Sibal-Limjoco will head the Philippine delegation to the Indonesia Franchise Conference (IFC 2014) slated from Sept. 12 to 14 at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC) in Indonesia.

Limjoco was also invited by the organizers of the show, the Indonesia Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), to make a presentation on two topics that are vital to the operation of retailers in the regional and global settings.

The IFC 2014 conference, with the theme “Franchising in AEC Global Market,” will be held in conjunction with Franchise and License Expo Indonesia 2014 (FLEI), the 12th edition of Indonesia franchise and business opportunity expo.

Limjoco, as the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will speak on the topic “Creating the winning formula to compete with global franchises.”

Limjoco, also the vice chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), will also make a presentation on “Franchising in the AEC and global market.”

“This is an exciting yet challenging time for Filipino brands and our participation in this expo is concrete proof that public- private efforts to boost our competitiveness in the regional and global markets are in full swing,” Limjoco said.

The country will have a Philippine Fashion Brand Pavilion at the Indonesia expo, made possible through the coordination of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Center for International Trade Exposition and Mission (CITEM).

“The DTI, through CITEM “Brands in Motion,” in cooperation with the PRA and PFA, has organized the Fashion Brand Pavilion as a strategy to export Philippine fashion store brands. In view of the Asean integration, there is a need to strengthen the local brand network. PRA and PFA take the lead to go on the offensive in the penetration of the Asean market,” PRA and PFA chairman Emeritus Samie Lim said. 

“With foreign brands such as the Uniqlo, HM, Forever 21, eating into our market, and more will be coming year after year, the PRA and PFA joined hands to help promote the local garment industry,” Lim added.

To make it inclusive, a Catalogue of Fashion Brands will be published, similar to the Korean Food catalogue sponsored by the Korea Agriculture Department.

“In the spirit of bayanihan or working together, Filipino fashion entrepreneurs will be working as one to become globally competitive,” Lim stressed.

PRA president Lorenzo Formoso is happy to commit the group’s resources to the project. He is hopeful that the other retail sector will have similar program so the country will be able to showcase the best of Philippine products for the coming Asia Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (APRCE) that will happen from Oct. 28 to 30, 2015. This will be a gathering of retailers and mall owners from 17 countries in Asia Pacific. The conference is expected to have 3,000 delegates.