Many enterprises expand their businesses through the MFE
The Macao Franchise Expo 2018 (2018MFE) has entered its 10th year since its debut in 2009. Nine years' development has nurtured the MFE into a widely recognised international franchise exhibition and an ideal trading platform for franchise businesses with outstanding achievements. Some of the co-organisers opine that the MFE that the event has become more and more mature over the years. Elements of current international economic development are well integrated into the theme, venue, as well as various exhibition areas, helping exhibitors and participants in exploring business opportunities. In addition, many enterprises that continue to attend this year's MFE not only make use of the event to enhance the "soft power" of their brands, but also take it as a springboard to expand their market in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. Furthermore, the companies also seek to gather market information at the MFE in order to formulate their future marketing strategy.
The MFE Remains Adamant about its Original Commitment
Mr Wong, representative of one of the organisers of the MFE the Macao Chain Stores and Franchise Association, speaks of the event's growing to maturity. He notes that the theme, venue, and exhibition halls are all customised to global economic trends and the future development of Macao's economy. With the aim to bring more opportunities for both exhibitors and participants, particularly SMEs, and to facilitate business interaction and co-operation, the event also helps the participating companies seize the opportunities of entrepreneurship and business transformation in forms of franchise, chain operation, and brand agency. Throughout the years, the MFE has fully committed to its original commitment to promote the moderate diversified development of Macao's economy.
Recalling the path he has walked along with the MFE, Mr Wong says that these nine years' commitment, learning, and participation have borne witness to both the MFE's and his personal growth and improvement. Over the years, the MFE has grown itself from a business negotiation event to the expo it is today, and its venue has shifted from the Macao Tower to the Venetian Macao. The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, together with representatives from business sectors, have travelled to the neighbouring regions, Southeast Asia and even Europe to participate in exhibitions, promote MFE and invite people from all parts of the world to join MFE. Each and every moment in this process is wonderful, even something to be proud of, for the participants from various regions who have shown appreciation of the spirit and attitude of the Macao team, with which they are deeply impressed. Their response has, indeed, fully testified to the internationalisation and professionalism of the MFE. Looking ahead, Mr Wong wishes that the MFE could further give play to Macao's unique advantage, and provide more business opportunities for SMEs by integrating itself into the Belt and Road Initiative and working inline with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, so that Macao's role as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries be strengthened, and eventually contributing more to the moderate diversified development of Macao's economy.
Ms Sio, representative of the Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association (MIBA)—another MFE organiser, sees the MFE as a platform that enables companies to showcase themselves and communicate with each other. In her opinion, the MFE not only helps to foster newborn brands, but also promotes and brings up those brands with Macao’s characteristics. Therefore, on the one hand, the image of local brands has been greatly enhanced to facilitate their expansion into a broader market; and on the other, the MFE also attracts international brands to Macao, generating new opportunities for investors. As a result, it brings mutual benefits to both sides and achieves win-win co-operation for all.
As described by Ms Sio, MFE's inception was a trade fair focusing on franchise negotiation, aiming at encouraging and supporting SMEs to innovate. It also sought to facilitate the sustainable development of local young entrepreneurs, century-old enterprises, and well-known brands. The MFE's purpose back then was to allow more Macao brands to make their names known in the global market and thus gain a market share. At present, the services provided by the MFE have become more and more stable and diversified. With wider and wider participation of co-operative partners and attendees, it has turned into an "international brand" bearing the unique features of Macao. Talking about its future, Ms Sio believes that the close co-operation and resource sharing between Macao and other cities in the Bay Area will lead to their complementary strengths, bringing about more comprehensive, more diversified, and deeper development for multiple parties.
Enterprises' Heightened Expectations of the MFE
Mr Hong, a representative of a beverage company, says that this is his company's fourth year of MFE participation. He concludes that taking part in the event is an effective measure of increasing exposure of his company's products, and thus easing the way for their expansion into overseas markets. His purpose of continuing to attend this year's MFE is, in one respect, to enhance his brand's "soft power", and in another, to engage with more regional agents in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Mr Ling, a representative of the bakery product company, states that his participation in the MFE in the past four years has proven to be satisfactory. It has enabled him to have access to more information on the industry and development trends, and come into contact with prospective partners to enlarge his business. Therefore, he continues to partake in this year's MFE, hoping to showcase his products through the platform, expand sales channels, and thereby improve the reputation and competitiveness of his company. He also remarks that Running concurrently the "2018 Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair" and the MFE will provide exhibitors with first-hand information about market demand in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, which is very helpful in devising targeted marketing strategies for these cities.
The 2018MFE will be held from July 27 to 29 at the Venetian Macao, with free admission for all. It is open to only trade visitors on the first day (July 27), and then open to public on July 28 and 29. For more details on the 2018MFE, please visit our official website www.mfe.mo, contact us at 853-82946885 (phone), 853-82946701 (fax), sec@mfe.mo (email), or follow us on WeChat "MFEMacau".
