Philippines to host global franchising confab

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will again be the center stage of global franchising this year as it hosts the World Franchise Council (WFC) and Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) meetings that are expected to attract industry leaders from over 40 economies.

These twin international meetings will cap year-long activities being lined up by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), highlighted by the highly anticipated 4-in-1 Franchise Asia Philippines 2023.

“Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 will be doubly significant because it will coincide with the PFA’s hosting of the WFC and APFC meetings in October. With the global franchising leaders focusing their sights on us, we are expecting record-breaking participation in all the Franchise Asia Philippines events, especially the flagship International Franchise Conference and International Franchise Expo,” PFA president Chris Lim said.

Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 carries the theme “Fun. Friendship. Franchising” and will have four components: The International Conference on June 7 and 8; the International Franchise Expo – recognized as Asia’s grandest – from Oct. 27 to 29; the two-day Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Program on June 5 and 6; and seminars and other learning sessions for aspiring franchisors and franchisees and entrepreneurs.

With the theme “Franchising Fast Forward,” the conference is bringing together a powerhouse cast of speakers and thought-provoking sessions for another extremely exciting and enriching learning experience, designed to further professionalize the industry and strengthen the sector’s global competitiveness and sustainability.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno will keynote the international confab happening at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

The International Franchise Expo, on the other hand, will showcase about 1,000 foreign and local franchise brands in the food, retail, and service sectors. Utilizing the entire SMX Convention Center, the expo is expected to welcome more than 50,000 visitors that are looking for fresh business opportunities via the franchising route.

“The International Expo has always been regarded as a launchpad for the national and global expansion of franchise brands. It also continues to attract foreign exhibitors and has been an effective instrument in promoting the Philippines as an investment destination. This year’s expo is expected to create at least 5,000 new businesses,” International Expo chair Steve Benitez, CEO of Bo’s Coffee, said.

PFA vice chairman Bing Sibal Limjoco, meanwhile, encouraged franchise industry practitioners to attend the two-day CFE Program on June 5 and 6 at the Asian Institute of Management. “CFE Program is part of PFA’s continuing initiatives to professionalize the franchise sector and sustain efforts in raising the global competitiveness of Philippine franchising,” she said.

PFA chairman Emeritus Samie Lim, the acknowledged Father of Philippine Franchising, said the staging of Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 proves that the pandemic has not derailed the growth of the industry. “Our hosting of the WFC and APFC meetings coinciding with Franchise Asia shows that the world indeed regards the Philippines as the franchise hub of Asia and is a testament to our industry’s resilience and the capacity of our economy to buttress franchising growth,” he said.