The three-day event, Macao Franchise Expo 2013 (2013MFE) came to a successful end. The overall turnout was significantly high, up to17,000. A total of 1,545 business matching sessions have been achieved, which resulted in the signing of 28 cooperation protocols.
In his closing speech, Mr. Agostinho Vong, Senior Manager of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute concluded that the scale and the level of the internationalisation of 2013 MFE have been gradually expanding and increasing which could be seen in the increase in the area of the venue and the first-time participation of European exhibitors. The participation of groups of media partners from Guangdong province and Hong Kong has strengthened the promotion on a regional basis. Also, by means of social networking website and other emerging media, the event attracted a substantial number of trade visitors from different fields.
A total of 1,545 on-site business matching were arranged, (1,346 sessions last year), a rise of nearly 15% year-on-year, of which 93% was specially arranged for SMEs and business beginners. A 12% increase year-on-year has contributed to the on-site signing of 28 cooperation protocols, (25 last year), including agreements on franchise catering, branded chain store, brand sales agency, branding promotion and collaborative agreements of business associations.
In addition, Mr. Jong Pyo Park, Deputy Director General of Korea Trade –Investment Promotion Agency, Ms. Karen Kwan, Vice Chairman of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong, Mr. Iao Weng Lei, Vice Director General of Macau Chain Stores and Franchise Association, Mr. Benjamin Ee, Vice President of ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation, Mr. Keyvin Bi, Director General of The Association of Advertising Agents of Macau, shared their insights and opinions on the development of chain and franchise business during the press briefing and appreciate the fruitful outcomes of the events.
Three forums with different themes and a series of professional presentation sessions during the 3-day event has broadened a lot the horizon of all participants and encouraged them to learn more of how to seek business opportunities through chain and franchise. The business matching area created a lively ambience for entrepreneurs to explore the possibility of business cooperation and achieve mutual benefits. Moreover, the 2013 MFE Brand Re-packaging Consultancy Pavilion and One-stop Service provided information and advisory services to all business starters and SMEs interested to expand their business scopes through chain operation and franchising. This makes Macao as a business platform to attract international brands and chain store operators with 2013 MFE as an ideal occasion to showcase different brands and services both from home and abroad to strengthen exchange and collaboration and connect Macao with overseas markets.
According to the figures and number of participants collected by the organiser, the event this year has achieved the desired outcomes, with a total of over 17,000 visitors. It is believed to be largely due to the weekend holiday and the intriguing activities held during the event this year, including a number of unique brand shows and free food and beverage tasting in some exhibitors.
According to the preliminary data collected from a survey conducted during the three days event, visitors’ age ranged from 18 to 30 years-old (46.54 %) and from 31 to 45 years (36.87 %). This indicates that the MFE has met its objective of creating a platform for potential young entrepreneurs to start their own business. Most of the exhibitors were highly satisfied (61.11 %) and appreciate the Organisers for the arrangement. They also expressed their interest in returning for the event next year.
The event has gradually served as an international business platform to foster interactive communications and collaborations for a broader spectrum of business opportunities and investments. This certainly helps to foster a desirable environment for local young talents and SMEs to establishing brand images and entrepreneur culture in Macao.
Building on the fruitful results and previous experiences and in line with making Macao a new height towards “World-class tourism and leisure centre”, MFE continues to strengthen the trade service platform to promote local brand products on an international scale and attract more international brands to invest in Macao, in order to promote economic diversification.
2013 MFE was jointly organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF), Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan (ACFPT), Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association (MIBA), Macao Chain Stores and Franchise Association (MCFA) and Licensing and Franchising Association of Hong Kong (LFA), supported by Chinese Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA), International Franchise Association (IFA) and Japan Franchise Association (JFA), co-organised by the Franchising & Licensing Association (Singapore), Korea Franchise Association, Malaysia Retailers’ Chain Association and Thailand Franchise Association, and coordinated by the Association of Advertising Agents of Macao. The slogan this year was “Brand Expansion Continues, Business Opportunities to be seized”.
“Macao Franchise Expo 2014” (20I4 MFE), is tentatively scheduled to be held on July 4 to 6 next year and will continue to actively promote the franchising business, working together with business communities both at home and abroad to create more prospective business opportunities.
