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The kingdom’s first Franchise & Dine Expo, which will be held in November, will offer small and medium size enterprises (SME’s) a business platform to explore various opportunities and new prospects at a local, regional and global level.
Themed ‘Expand Your Global Footprints in the Middle East Market’, the two day event, staged at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain on November 8 and 9, aims to attract and showcase local and international exhibitors from various sectors including education and training, food and beverage, specialty retail, fashion and lifestyle, health and wellness, financial services, real estate, licensing, business suppliers and more.
The official strategic partners of the event are the Capital Governorate, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority (BTEA) and Tamkeen.
The exhibition was announced at a press conference earlier in the week to call out exhibitors and businesses interested in participating in the expo as well as raising awareness about the growth of franchises and enterprises in the kingdom. Others present at the launch were officials from BCCI and professional NGOs such as Bahrain businesswomen Society (BBS), the SMEs Society, and the media as well as co-organisers Quick Media Solutions Company W.L.L (QMS) and the Middle East and North Africa Franchise Association (MENAFA).
Co-Organizer of the expo, Khalid Al-Sharafa, founder and Chairman of the Middle East & North Africa Frachise Association (MENAFA) said: “Bahrain Franchise & Dine Expo 2017 will be the first edition of upcoming franchise events in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The franchise industry is one of the primes worth approximately $30 billion growing at a rate of 27 per cent annually in the MENA region.
“Our aim is in line with the government of Bahrain’s goals to promote growth and expansion regionally and globally for investors to explore their options in Bahrain, and great concepts to expand globally. We hope this first franchise expo in Bahrain will bring under one roof leading global and homegrown franchisors to meet and connect. This will be a premier business event, attracting the most successful brands and service providers with the aim of networking with investors.”
Komandor Middle East – Bahrain, a leading worldwide producer of wardrobe systems since 1992, is delighted to be participating within the expo. During the conference, Yajur Damani, director of Komandor Middle East – Bahrain was invited to the podium as a representative of this franchiser in Bahrain to talk about his company’s objectives to be part of this expo. Mr Yajur said: “Participating in this expo is a great opportunity to showcase our products and services and also to expand the business in the region and globally.”
Jacob Jijo Philip, business development manager at QMS and expo organising committee member, outlined the ideology of the expo stating that franchising is the current trend for business opportunities and its growing at a very fast pace in the world of business.
He added: “Franchising has made its trademark in the global market for business expansion, start-ups, enterprises, entrepreneurs and economic development. “Now I believe it’s time to take Franchising at a larger scale in the Kingdom of Bahrain which will also deliver the same impact and I am very sure Bahrain is very much ready for it.
“This expo is acquiring great interest and attention from international brands and international partners because they are very much aware of the fact that the Bahrain is growing economically and is open to a wide range of business expansions in the region.
“Bahrain economy is one of the most diversified economies in the region and it keeps developing and expanding constantly. The business market here is flexible and provides the most competitive environment for entrepreneurs and start-ups.”
The event is being held under the patronage of HE Shaikh Hisham bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Khalifa, governor of the Capital Governorate.
