Pinoy franchisers urged to look at Asean

Filipino franchisers have been asked to set their sights on other ASEAN markets that present very good expansion opportunities.

Samie Lim, acknowledged as the “Father of Philippine Franchising” and chairman emeritus of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), issued the call to local franchisers as the country prepares to hold the Franchise Asia Philippines 2015 next month.

Lim said Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia are new frontiers that Filipino franchisers should tap in expanding their market reach.

“Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia, these are virgin markets for us, so I tell our people to stop looking at New York or other distant markets,” Lim, who is one of the PFA stalwarts who thought of organizing the annual Franchise Asia Philippines, stressed.

This year’s event will have four components: the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Program on June 8-9; the International Franchise Conference on June 10-11; the three-day International Franchise Expo on June 12-14; and the Educational Seminars simultaneous with the Expo on June 12-14.

PFA, the country’s pioneer and largest franchise association, stages the show in cooperation with BPI Family Ka-Negosyo Franchising Loan, PLDT SME Nation, Sun, Smart and ePLDT.

There are only a few of American brands in Myanmar right now on account of the earlier US trade sanctions. In the next five years, however, Lim said there will be no more room for Philippine franchise brands there since the Americans will have already come in.

Currently, Lim noted, Thai firms are invading Myanmar, “but these are not as good as ours.” Myanmar, with a population of about 60 million, is regarded by Thai companies as a province of Thailand. Thai provincial brands which could not penetrate Bangkok are now invading Myanmar since it is easier for them to cross over the border to their neighbor.

“Our brands, whether food or fashion, will be the high-end brands there. But there is no intellectual property law yet as of now, that is the caveat. The key is to have a partner who can protect you and not take advantage of you, or not use you,” Lim added.

Lim said he is also excited about the franchising prospects in Vietnam so he is going there in a few weeks. He said it is good that the government, through the Department of Trade and Industry and Center of International Trade Exposition and Mission (Citem), now supports the PFA in its campaign to “export” Filipino brands through participation in overseas franchise shows.

“We had pavilions in Indonesia and Dubai…we will do that more often. In Indonesia we brought 10 brands. CITEM shouldered the pavilion and promotion. We used our connections there and they (Indonesians) supplied the models. There was a fashion show of Philippine clothes with Indonesian models,” he narrated.

For inquiries, please call the PFA Secretariat at (632) 687- 0365 to 67 or ( 63917) 832- 0732, or e- mail pfa@pfa.org.ph (general inquiries); franchiseasiaconf@pfa.org. ph (conference) or franchiseasiaexpo@pfa.org.ph (expo).