ASEAN Retail Franchise Local Chapters To Be Fully Set-Up By Year-End

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- The formation of the ASEAN Retail-Chains and Franchise Federation (ARFF) chapters for the whole of ASEAN are expected to be completed by year-end in line with the ASEAN Economic Community 2015. ARFF President Richard Koh said the federation currently has six representatives in ASEAN countries. "We now have ARFF representatives in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Singapore, as well as in China and South Korea. "I believe we are going to make a difference in creating new frontiers for the retailing and franchise business," he said at the soft launch of the ASEAN Franchise Expo and Symposium (AFES) 2015 here, Friday. ARFF was established in 2008 here to promote retail chains and franchise, tourism and shopping industries within the 10 ASEAN countries plus six countries namely China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. "Currently, there are some 200 members in Malaysia and almost 90 per cent of our members have business expansion in at least three countries in ASEAN, as well as in China, India and West Asia," he said. Earlier, Koh said the AFES 2015 would be held from Sept 4-6 at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Exhibition and Convention Centre, here. The Organising Chairman of AFES 2015, Professor Dr Jayles Yeoh said this year's event would introduce a property showcase, ASEAN Property Expo 2015, which is jointly organised with the Singapore Press Holdings. “We have organised the events for Malaysia to lead the region to achieve enormous outcome in branding the ASEAN franchising and retailing as one of the best the world,” he said. -- BERNAMA