Franchise Asia 2001 to discuss industry’s phe

As the winning streak of franchising continues to sweep the globe, its phenomenal growth in Asia and in the Philippines will take center stage at the forthcoming Franchise Asia 2001 on Sept. 12-16.

Dubbed the biggest international franchise event to be staged so far in the region, international franchise experts will gather to discuss franchise issues such as industry trends and innovations, franchise legal aspects, how to finance your franchise, including franchising sales and marketing strategies.

With its theme "Asia to the World, the World to Asia," Franchise Asia 2001 is a four-in-one event that includes top level meetings of the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the Asia-Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC); franchise conference at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel; and an expo of international and home-grown products and services at the World Trade Center.

Hailed as the most successful marketing concept to be introduced in decades, franchising offers boundless opportunities to companies eyeing expansion or diversification, or to entrepreneurs who want to establish their own business. Whether in the US, Europe or in Asia, companies engaged in franchising generate profitable business with greater success than non-franchises.

According to the World Resource Center-Global Development, there are over 15,000 franchise companies around the globe today. Franchisees have even surpassed the one million mark, with approximate global sales of $1.4 trillion, creating jobs for about 12 million people globally.

Although it is accepted that franchising was conceived and born in the West, with the way global trends are moving, Asia is foreseen to become the hub where franchising will realize its fullest potential and reach its apex. Having a population of 3.8 billion, Asia is by far the largest market in the world offering a franchise opportunity tantamount to success. The demand for quality and convenience in goods and services is now high making it at par with that of Western standards.

In the Philippines, franchising emerges as the only business sector experiencing phenomenal growth over the years. From only 50 franchises in the early 90’s to more than 500 franchises to date, the Philippine franchise industry had grown by an impressive 800 percent. With its point to franchise opportunity in Asia. It has a population of 80 million, around 94 percent of them English speaking. It is just two to four hours away from its neighbors in Southeast Asia and has a big pool of highly-skilled professionals. Importantly, too, Filipinos are rated among the best managers in Asia.