Asean brands can exploit region’s strength, says biz leader

MANILA, Philippines - An influential business leader in the Philippines said synergies among Southeast Asia’s franchising industry players are critical in their global expansion given the impending integration of Asean economies at the end of 2015. 

Ma. Alegria “Bing” Sibal-Limjoco, vice chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association and  Philippine Franchise Association, and the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the franchising players would immensely benefit from the Asean Economic Community (AEC) if they work hand in hand in competing in the global marketplace currently dominated by western brands. 

“The AEC is an excellent opportunity for us to learn how to become more global in our marketing plans and product development.  But perhaps, the most crucial thing that we need to learn in the era of the AEC is to learn to collaborate with each other rather than compete with each other. We have to work together so that we can reach the goal of the AEC,” Limjoco said during her presentation at the recently concluded Indonesia Franchise Conference (IFC 2014) organized by Kadin- Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Jakarta Convention Center. 

With the topic “Creating the winning formula to compete with global franchises.” she urged franchisers from the Asean bloc to focus on the strengths of their respective nations and complement each other toward attaining global competitiveness. 

“Let us synergize our strengths to make Asean franchises global brands.  Indonesia with its 250 million population is easily the most attractive market in Asean.  Singapore can be the financing hub.  We can learn a lot from Malaysia’s public-private partnership.  Thailand, admittedly is the geographical hub in Asean and is the gateway to Asean’s emerging markets namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.