Touted to be the biggest one-stop-shop of international brands and concepts, an international franchising exposition opens today at the SMEX Convention Center, featuring 500 franchising brands on 10,000 sq m of exhibit space. It is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors and generate P50 billion worth of investments.
The exhibit is one of the highlights of Franchise Asia 2011, a week-long event — from September 19 to 25 — mounted by the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC).
The event will also feature high level meetings of the WFC and APFC, an international conference, and educational franchising seminars.
The international conference has four components: case presentations on “The Making of Successful Brands;” a forum on “Franchising Challenges and Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Region;” panel discussion on “Sustaining the Triple Bottomline” and “Use of Social Media for Enhanced Profitability” and other issues affecting the growth of the franchising sector; and concurrent breakout sessions for franchisors, franchisees and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The week-long event will be participated in by 25 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the USA.
The event is being hosted for the second time by the Philippines.
According to Philippine Franchise Association President Elizabeth Pardo Orbeta, the Philippines’ strategic location in the Asia-Pacific, coupled with a large English-speaking population, has made it a prime location for international companies to prosper a franchise. “The favourable business climate and environment makes our country the best gateway of the world to the 600 million Southeast Asian market.”
Franchising in the Philippines is in a booming state, Orbeta, who also chairs Wendy’s Philippines, adds, pointing to the 1,100 concepts and brands that have multiplied to over 115,000 outlets.
Photo: “FLAGs of SMEX – SM Mall Of Asia (MOA) – IMG_6175” by , c/o Flickr. All Rights Reserved