KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Franchise Programme held in Bengaluru, India on Wednesday (Sept 21), managed to attract 100 local investors and entrepreneurs, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The programme, held in conjunction with the Franchise Trade Mission to Bengaluru, was led by Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh.
Seven Malaysian brands - Aloha, Little Caliphs, Marrybrown, Q-Dees, Sangkaya, Smart Reader Kids and UCMAS - took part alongside a delegation consisting of officials from the ministry, the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA).
"Held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru, the programme was organised in collaboration with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) which was interested in establishing business and investment patnerships with franchise companies from Malaysia," the ministry said in a statement Thursday (Sept 21).
According to the statement, in 2022, India was Malaysia's largest trading partner among the eight South Asian countries with a total of RM9.51bil worth of 275 approved investments in the manufacturing industry sector which were expected to create 27,612 job opportunities.
"The purpose of this Special Business Mission to Bengaluru, India is to promote Malaysian local franchise brands and further penetrate the huge potential market in India, which has the highest population in the world.
"This mission also witnessed matching programmes and business meetings between Malaysian companies and local Indian investors and entrepreneurs for business cooperation," said the ministry.
Meanwhile, in her speech, Fuziah was confident that the companies participating in the trade mission to Bengaluru are capable of attracting potential investments of RM100mil for Malaysian franchise companies in the next three years.
During the visit, Fuziah also met her counterpart, the Minister of Food, Supplies and Consumerism, Karnataka KH Muniyappa and in the meeting, they discussed and shared information on possible future collaboration that could be implemented for mutual benefits.
The Deputy Minister also had a brief meeting with representatives of Reliance Industries to discuss strategic collaboration in franchise business that can be implemented in the future.
Before the programme ends Thursday, Fuziah is expected to visit a sugar factory operating under the Directorate of Sugarcane Development and Sugar, Karnataka, and several Malaysian franchise outlets in Bengaluru as well as taking a closer look at the operations of local franchise businesses in India. - Bernama
