[2019/07/26] Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands Successfully Held & Financing and InnoTech Application Discussed

As a key event of the Macao Franchise Expo 2019 (2019MFE), the Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands was successfully held this afternoon. The live broadcast of the Forum in Mainland China, especially the cities in the Greater Bay Area, attracted over 410,000 viewers as well. During the Forum, the guests shared and discussed financing methods, experience, InnoTech application, and so on.

Mrs Irene Va Kuan Lau, President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), remarked that with the constant changes in the economic environment and consumption market, innovative and creative products, technologies, management models and financing methods are becoming significant impetuses for brand development and enterprise competitiveness. It is expected that this Forum can generate new ideas and development directions relevant to business models, brand operations, financial leasing, product innovation, and service upgrade for brands and franchising enterprises.

Chain and franchise associations and companies, financial institutions, start-ups and inno-tech enterprises from Mainland China, Brazil, Portugal, Japan, Singapore and Macao were invited to the Forum. Under the theme of “Financing Analyses – Financing Strategy for Franchising Business”, the first session was moderated by Mr Albert Kong, Executive Council Member of Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore). Focusing on financing strategies for franchising businesses, Ms Susan Su, Director of Franchise Committee Office of the Franchise & Entrepreneur Department, China Chain Store & Franchise Association; Ms Cristina Maria Matos, CEO of Portuguese Franchise Association; Mr Bruno Amado, International Project Manager of Brazilian Franchise Association; Mr Kyo Ito, Chairman of Franchise Committee in Tokyo Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultants Association; and Mr Antonio Duarte, Director of Leasing of Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A., shared financing methods and experience with regard to franchising.

Moderated by Prof Jerome Yen, Head of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the University of Macau, the second session “Inno Star” took “Harnessing Innovation for Development & InnoTech for Branding” as its theme. Mr Tianlan Chen, CEO of Digifluidic Bio-Technology Limited; Mr  Kammy Cheong, General Manager of Barra Creative Technology and Design Limited; Mr Fai Wong, Founder of UTRAN-I Technology Limited; and Ms Crystal Kwok, Founder of 2048 (Macau), Limited, shared innovative scientific and technological methods to promote brand development.

Several guests introduced the development and financing situations of the franchising industry in different regions, and they shared various financing methods for franchising enterprises, including franchise fees, bank loan, government financing, crowd funding. At present, a number of regions provide financing support for franchising enterprises, and some successful enterprises have achieved business expansion through listing and fundraising. Guests from the financial sector pointed out that banks in Macao are willing to support Macao-based franchising enterprises; however, enterprises must explain clearly the concept and development plan of franchising enterprises, so that banks could assess risks and offer assistance in an appropriate way. Representatives of innovation-driven and creative businesses introduced entrepreneurial prospects and the visions of their companies. They aimed at attracting competent partners by virtue of their unique products and services in order to launch their products and services in more markets.

Crowds of participants join the Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands in the 2019MFE

Guests share and discuss financing methods, experience, and InnoTech application regarding franchising with participants at the Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands.