Following the success of the 27th edition held on October 15 to November 10, 2020, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) together with the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) will once again organise the Digital Franchise International Malaysia, Exhibition and Conference (Digital FIM2021) on October 9-16, 2021.
With the world still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s exhibition and conference will again be an interactive online event for visitors and exhibitors.
This free Digital FIM2021 program aims to assemble franchise industry players from inside and outside the country to showcase their products and business opportunities in various sectors and to lessen the burden of the pandemic imposed on business expansion.
Digital FIM2021 is the only Franchise Exhibition and Conference program organised in Malaysia which is fully supported by the World Franchise Council (WFC), Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
With the theme “Towards Digitalized Franchising”, Digital FIM2021 certainly promises a valuable and exciting experience for both exhibitors and visitors, where hundreds of exhibitors are showcased in a single digital market. Visitors will be able to compare hundreds of products and services offered to make smarter decisions while interacting with different brands through Live Chat and the comment box.
Digital FIM2021 focuses on three main activities: Exhibitions, Conferences and Live Sessions. A total of 100 digital booths are available, and 15,000 visitors are targeted to attend the Digital FIM2021 with the anticipated potential franchise investment of RM250 million during the eight-day exhibition.
Apart from the Digital FIM2021 exhibition, the Franchise International Conference will be an additional highlight of the weeklong event. Franchise experts will share views on various issues and case studies concerning the franchise industry in Malaysia as well as in the Asian region, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. This digital event will include special live sessions which will feature short presentations on franchise packages by the exhibitors and a short briefing on franchising by MFA.
FREE FOR VISITORS
The event is free for visitors, providing unlimited education and opportunities as a networking platform for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking for franchise business opportunities.
Sharing important points on the importance of the franchise industry, Mr Shamshuzaman Bin Haji Sulaiman, Senior Director, Distributive Trade and Business Sector says, “The MDTCA is always committed to delivering the best services to the people and the industry as a whole, especially the service industry such as the franchise industry. The Government greatly appreciates the contributions of the franchise industry which can be seen from the statistics of the Franchise Business Annual Report (FBAR) which is required to be submitted by the company every year.”
Based on the FBAR in 2019, the sales value of franchise companies increased to RM13.3 billion or 19.82% compared to RM11.1 billion in 2018. The industry also provides more than 55,000 jobs with an expected contribution of not less than RM990 million a year to national income. This figure is a clear indication of the potential of the franchise business system as one of the major contributors to the country’s economy.
To date, a total of 1,090 franchise companies have registered with the MDTCA and a total of 68 local franchise companies have succeeded in penetrating 70 countries worldwide.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in order to boost economic growth and increase national income during the COVID-19 pandemic, MDTCA, the country’s franchise industry leader, is optimistic that it will continue the franchise growth agenda to revive the country’s franchise sector.
The implementation of the Domestic Franchise Program will continue to be the key agenda to increase awareness of the franchise system for the community, particularly at the grassroots level.
The various programs, in the form of virtual exhibitions, webinars, training, expos and financing, are relevant for the current industry climate and are expected to draw high interest to boost this sector.
The ministry is targeting the participation of 150 exhibitors comprising various local and foreign franchise brands as well as relevant agencies. The number of visitors to DFIM2021 is expected to be 15,000. MDTCA is expecting at least RM200 million worth of potential investment.
The program also involves participation from 15 countries including the USA, Australia, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
MDTCA welcomes more local franchise brand companies to join FIM2021 as exhibitors. The due date for companies to confirm their participation is September 30, 2021. The Ministry also invites all Malaysians to seize the opportunity given to participate in this FIM event for free. Register as a visitor and take the opportunity to engage and learn more about the franchise business opportunities that are available.
