Filipino Franchise Show prepares entrepreneurs for ASEAN integration

MANILA, Philippines - The Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI) aims to prepare entrepreneur for ASEAN 2015 Integration in this year’s Filipino Franchise Show.

“The upcoming ASEAN 2015 integration is expected to act as a further impetus for AFFI members to go overseas. The integration opens up the region’s capital and labor markets to competition. This is expected to lead an influx of foreign franchise brands into the country,” said AFFI on its press release.

During the event’s press launch and partnership sealing ceremony, AFFI President Victor Fernando announced that there will be a Franchisee Conference this year for the first time as part of the Filipino Franchise Show.

AFFI Chair Armando Bartolome explained that franchisees are an integral part of a business but they are also the neglected portion. The Franchisee Conference will be a venue to empower, recognize, and showcase the best practices of franchisees.

Representatives from ASEAN countries are invited to the conference to share their franchisee experiences.  Fernando said that Filipino companies should try to be at par with their neighbors not just within the region but also globally.

Bartolome added that Filipinos are flexible and that franchisers should be willing to adapt if they opt to expand outside the country. He cited Potato Corner as an example for adjusting its store and menu for its 84 branches mostly in Indonesia and the United States.

Ricardo Cuna, Chairman of the 2014 Filipino Franchise Show, said that the ASEAN integration is more of a challenge for Filipino entrepreneurs to compete worldwide.

AFFI Vice President Teresita Ngan Tian said that she is confident in the food sector to be able to compete globally due to growing population. Foreign brands alongside local brands in the supermarket are already a part of integration.

The Filipino Franchise Show will be held at the World Trade Center from October 3 to 5. This year’s show bears the theme “ASEAN Integration through franchising.”  The event will be composed of exhibits of franchises, product and services of support industries, regional products and services, retailers and distributors. The Filipino ASEAN Franchise Conference is also a part of the show along with the ASEAN Pavilion and other special events.