BIFEX 2018

The 2018 edition of the Beirut International Franchise Forum and Exhibition (BIFEX), held under the patronage of the President of the Council of Ministers HE Saad Hariri and organized by the Lebanese Franchise Association since 2011, kicked off with a bang to a full house on April 18. Held at the Beirut Seaside Pavilion, this two-day event, titled ‘Retail in Lebanon: Sustainability and Growth’, featured five one-hour sessions, with 10 international guest speakers based across various industries taking to the stage and sharing their experience and advice with local and regional attendees. Arab retailers, business owners and entrepreneurs listened eagerly as the speakers presented new ideas, technologies and innovations that audience members could adopt to grow and expand their businesses or even launch new projects related to commerce, tourism and culture.

The key topics tackled on the first day were: finding ways to build powerful brands; lending insight to new consumers and their consumption patterns; strategies to drive future growth; and the merits partnerships and collaborations bring.

On the second day, a roundtable session was attended by five local and prominent figureheads, representing some of Lebanon’s most respected brands. The discussion revolved around the secret behind the success of these businesses, the development strategies devised to propel them forward and the challenges they have faced. This was followed by a keynote presentation, tackling issues related to the world’s creative economies and the lessons that could be learned. The event concluded with a masterclass directly addressing the hotly debated issue of sustainable innovation, which represents a major concern to all industries.