PH Embassies, PTIC, PFA Host Webinar on Franchise Investment Opportunities in the PH
Guests, speakers, and organizers of the Webinar on Franchise Investment Opportunities in the Philippines as shown on screen during the webinar held on 08 August 2020.
First row from top, left to right: Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Brussels (PTIC Berlin) Trade Representative Althea Antonio, Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Vice Chairperson Bing Sibal-Limjoco, CFE, PFA President Sherill R. Quintana, CFE, PTIC Brussels Trade Representative Benedict Uy.
Second row, left to right: Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo Jose A. de Vega, Bibingkinitan Franchise Manager Meliza de Guzman, PFA Director for ASEAN and Special Projects Chris Lim, CFE, Pure Nectar Managing Director Arielle Escalona.
Third row, left to right: Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega, Potato Corner International Markets Group General Manager Kathryna G. Manalo, CFE, Oryspa Franchise Relations Officer Patricia De Ramos, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda.
Fourth row, left to right: U-Franchise Sales and Manager Franchise Consultant Camille Malto, Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe Natividad. (Brussels PE photo)
BRUSSELS 12 August 2020 – The Philippine Embassies in Brussels, The Hague, Berlin, and Vienna, together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Brussels (PTIC Brussels) and Berlin (PTIC Berlin), and in cooperation with the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), hosted a webinar on Franchise Investment Opportunities in the Philippines on 08 August 2020.
This webinar was the second in the 2020 series of the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) webinars that aim to provide Filipinos in Europe with information on e-commerce as well as business and investment opportunities in the Philippines despite the current restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
PTIC Brussels Philippine Trade Representative Benedict Uy and PTIC Berlin Philippine Trade Representative Althea Antonio opened the webinar, while Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo Jose A. de Vega in Brussels, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda in The Hague, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega in Berlin, and Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe Natividad in Vienna delivered their respective greetings and inspirational messages to the participants.
In her welcome remarks, PFA Vice-Chairperson Bing Sibal-Limjoco emphasized that this time of crisis is actually the best time for those wanting to start a business to invest. She said that with the 16.5 % decline in the Philippine economy for the 2nd quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “there is no other way to go but up” as it is during crises like this that entrepreneurs rise, citing notable examples of global brands such as Jollibee, Google, and Air BNB which all started during times of crisis. She added that investing in a franchise is ”90% more successful as compared to starting one’s own business.”
PFA President Sherill R. Quintana then gave an overview of the Philippine Franchising Sector while PFA Director for ASEAN and Special Projects Chris Lim spoke about investing in the right franchise.
Franchise managers of well known Philippine brands such as Bibingkinitan, Oryspa, Potato Corner, Pure Nectar, and U-Franchise Brands covering Brent Gas, H2o Mineral Plus, and Shawarma Snacks, spoke about how they made their businesses relevant and profitable during times of crisis and explained how Filipinos in Europe could invest in franchising.
The participating Philippine Ambassadors also noted the leading role played by female participants in this webinar (following the 1st TNK webinar conducted on 24 July 2020 whose key speaker was a Filipina), which should open doors for better cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders and empower women for greater standing in the franchising sector.
In his closing remarks, PFA Chairman Richard Sanz advised the participants to be agile, resilient, and decisive in order to conquer the challenges brought about by the pandemic and become powerful instruments for the country’s economic development with their inclusive roles of becoming their own bosses through franchising. END
Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo Jose A. de Vega at the PTIC Office in Brussels joins the Webinar on Franchise Investment Opportunities in the Philippines held on 08 August 2020. (Brussels PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium/.