3-day international franchising expo opens

The three-day Franchise Asia 2011 International Expo opens on Friday at the SMX Convention Center, with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Ambassadors Harry Thomas Jr. of the United States and Dato Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad of Malaysia leading dignitaries and international industry leaders in the kick-off ceremonies.

Binay will deliver the keynote speech and expo chairman Franklin Go will declare the formal opening of the expo, which will feature investment opportunities spanning more than 500 brands catering to the consumer market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Among the officials expected are Philippine Franchise Association chair Robert Trota, president Yvette Pardo-Orbeta and vice president Ernesto TanMantiong, Philippine Export Confederation president Serge Ortiz-Luis, Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Francis Chua, Franchise Asia Expo cochair Kenneth Yang.

Also expected to attend are Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. senior vice president Eric Alberto BPI-Family Savings Bank president and chief executive officer Jose Teodoro TG Limcaoco, Philippine National Bank president and CEO Carlos Pedrosa, World Franchise Council chair Samie Lim, Franchise Asia 2011 chair Bing Sibal-Limjoco, International Franchise Association chair Jack Earle and senior vice president Jeff Welch, European Union head of trade and economic delegation Andrea Fennesz, Asia Pacific Sales & Marketing Support general manager Shahid Ahmed, and HP Philippines country general manager Albert Mateo Jr.

“The Philippines’ hosting of Franchise Asia 2011 highlights the country as an investment and tourism destination,” Limjoco said.