CANBERRA 06 March 2019 – The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Sydney, partnered with Expand Franchising and other organizations to promote franchising and other investment opportunities in the Philippines.
The first franchising seminar was conducted in Campbeltown in New South Wales on 19 February 2019, in partnership with Narra Co-operative, Inc., a membership cooperative comprising Filipino-Australians.
On 20 February 2019, PTIC-Sydney hosted a coffee talk on franchising and a series of small group business consultations with Expand Franchising.
The Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) hosted a seminar on “Franchising Trends and Opportunities” on 21 February 2019.
Special Trade Representative to Australia Alma Argayoso said that the franchising seminars and business consultations are initiatives under the Trabaho (jobs),
Negosyo(business), Kabuhayan (livelihood) or the TNK program.
The TNK is a DTI program in partnership with other government agencies, private sector, academe and civil society organizations, to promote entrepreneurship and generate employment.
“We aim to help our kababayans or their families back home invest in viable economic activities in the Philippines by providing them with information and resources to help them succeed as entrepreneurs,” Ms. Argayoso said.
Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega noted the significance of the initiative. “The Filipino community in Australia is successful and their excellence is widely-recognized. The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and I encourage Filipinos and our friends here in Australia to seize the many opportunities in our country,” she said.
Mr. Ignacio Gimenez of Expand Franchising brought to Australia its partner in the Philippines, RK Franchise Consultancy Inc., represented by its founder Rudolf Kotik. Mr. Kotik has over 40 years of experience in the franchising business and developed over 800 brands in the Philippines and abroad.
Mr. Kotik presented franchising trends, opportunities as well as its benefits. He also discussed the procedures and steps to become a franchisee or a franchisor and advised those who would like to scale up and open their business for franchising.
“It’s the biggest and most successful business system in the world and the Philippines is in the top ten with the most number of franchise units globally. Among the latest trends are innovative food and beverage outlets, self-service laundromats, education and tutorial services, specialized beauty services, and animal care services,” he added.
While most of the interested parties were overseas or former Filipinos looking for a franchise to set-up in the Philippines or bring to Australia, a number of foreigners also expressed interest in the co-ownership arrangements where several investors can buy 80 percent share in the franchise while 20 percent remains with the franchisor. The franchisor will run the business and provide monthly financial reports and quarterly dividends. This is a win-win arrangement where a franchisor uses OPM or Other People’s Money to grow the business, while a franchisee invests in a business without having to worry about the day-to-day operations.
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For more information, visit www.canberrape.dfa.gov.ph,
www.philembassy.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustralia.
