The fifteenth Franchise International Malaysia 2008 Exhibition and Conference (FIM2008) expects some RM275 million worth of trade deals to be announced during its three-day trade fair here starting August 1. The organizing committee chairman MOHD ZUHRI ABDULLAH says, this 10% increase from last year's RM250 million is achievable due to the increasing awareness among the general public on the boon of doing business via franchising, besides vigorous support from the government. 'We believe that the largest contribution will still from the F&B sector for approximately 30% or RM82.5 million, followed by other sectors such as Services, Education, Health and Beauty Care, and ICT,' he says. 'Franchising is not only F&B-based but comprised of many other sectors. And that is why MFA strongly believes that franchising can be one of the major sources of national revenue by bringing in foreign investments amid rising concerns on spiraling oil and food costs,' he adds. Being the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia region, FIM2008 is an event inextricable with the growth of the franchising industry in Malaysia. This event has over the past 15 years gained sustained momentum in spearheading the expansion and dynamism of this industry. The three-day event will be jam packed with many programs i.e. conference, seminars, opportunity workshops, and special programmes specially tailored for the benefit of foreign delegates are also being organised. 'We have received a positive response from participants all over the world. So far, 90 companies have occupied 110 booths from over 14 countries like the U.S., Australia, Italy, France, Egypt, Brazil, Switzerland, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan. 35% of them are international. Besides, in order to encourage more local franchise, the organizers have occupied some 20% of booth space for newcomers especially Bumiputera. However, the Bumiputera participation in the exhibition has exceeded the target at 25%.
Globalizing The Rights
In view that the Intellectual Property is the essence in franchising, thus this year's conference will be spotlighting the subject aptly themed 'Globalizing the Rights'. About 30 eminent speakers from local and foreign players will be speaking at the scheduled conference and seminars on the pertinent issues affecting the industry in particular the IP. Former Prime Minister of Malaysia who is also the patron of MFA, TUN DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD will be delivering a special keynote on the topic 'A World Without Franchising'. In the meantime, MFA will also be hosting the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) annual meetings both to be held here concurrently with the FIM2008. The leaders of the world franchise associations will be congregating in Kuala Lumpur to chart the way forward in these challenging and uncertain economic times and to outline the future plan of action for this industry. There are 38 franchise associations under the WFC and 17 for the APFC which will join the meetings (click here to learn more about speakers and topics of the international conference). Currently, MFA is serving as the permanent secretariat of APFC for a 4-year term (2007-2011). In addition, MFA together with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Malaysia Intellectual Property Organization (MyIPO) will also be jointly organizing a seminar on Intellectual Property in Franchising. 'Thus, FIM2008 this year would serve as a platform for the movers and shakers in the franchising industry to source the best solutions for innovative franchise products and services. We believe that this event will be able to help the government to achieve the target to produce 50 new franchisors and 1,000 franchisees within the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010),' Zuhri adds. Zuhri also says MFA is targeting about 10,000 trade visitors to this year's fair. The FIM2008 Exhibition and Conference is an annual event jointly organized by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Co-operation and Development (MECD) and Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) which will be held from August 1 to 3, 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur. Deputy Prime Minister DATO'SRI MOHD NAJIB TUN ABDUL RAZAK will graciously open the event on the August 1.

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Date: 31/07/2008
Source: FIM Press Office

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