Egyptian Brands Attend Saudi Franchise Expo

11 British brands and 14 Egyptian brands reserved places in the biggest Saudi international gathering for franchises in the Saudi capital at the Riyadh International Conventions and Exhibitions Center. There are expectations that the Saudi Franchise Expo (5-7 February 2018) will witness the conclusion of many deals. Ambitions rise this year for making new collaborations and partnerships as it will witness the exporting of Saudi and GCC brands to large number of international markets.

Ahmad Al-Refae’e, manager of the organizing committee, said: “The Saudi International Exhibition for Franchise started its latest preparations to receive the participating delegations, companies, local, Arab and international brands, and it still receives more participating large companies, with famous franchises that will be present at the exhibition which will continue for three days.”

Al-Refae’e added: “All indicators confirm that the Riyadh exhibition will be a shift in the process of franchising in the Kingdom, for the first time in the Saudi capital the exhibition will provide a rare opportunity for entrepreneurs to engage with exhibitors who offers commercial franchise rights, who displays a wide variety of products and services in the kingdom.”

Jehan Haid, Head of Consumer and Retail Sector at Saudi Arabia in the British company (DET), noted the huge presence of British franchises in the exhibition and said: “The Riyadh exhibition is considered an important opportunity for us, to learn about the local market and it needs. We will work through the British Pavilion supported by the Ministry of International Trade, which will be located on an area of 90 meters and includes seven brands, the pavilion will let us identify entrepreneurs and help them expand, we seek to establish successful partnerships that will allow us to offer our high quality products within the Saudi market.”

Haid added: “ We would like to have our place in the Saudi market. We work in many sectors including health, beauty, food, beverages, decoration, home, lifestyle, fashion and accessories sectors. I expect brands to grow in the upcoming period and succeed in concluding deals with promising Saudi investors and entrepreneurs willing to publish international brands within the Kingdom.”

Malak Al-Ashiri, director of Franchise Gate Company, which is active in the field of consultancy, commercial franchise, investment and marketing of commercial agencies in Egypt and the United Arab of Emirates, said: “14 Egyptian companies confirmed participation to the huge exhibition hosted in the Saudi capital. We have considerable experience in organizing conferences and economic forums. We have the confidence of many ministries and agencies and we hope to be the first business and investment platform in the Middle East and North Africa also we would like to have the most effective impact on the domestic and international market. We work on expanding the brands from the local market to the regional and the international markets, We participated in the Franchise Forum in the United Arab of Emirates in 2011 and 2014 also at Egypt Franchise exhibition in 2017 and finally the first delta forum for investment and commercial agencies in the Egyptian city of Mansoura.”

Al-Ashiri noted that with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation, they will present a range of projects and opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs at The Saudi International Exhibition for Franchise through the food, beverages, industrial, service, commercial, cosmetic, entertainment and technology sectors, in the presence of 14 companies displays a variety of services.

Al-Ashiri further said: "We seek to present successful business opportunities to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in small and medium projects in the Kingdom. The exhibition also gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to communicate with exhibitors offering commercial franchise rights and serious joint cooperation with investors present from various countries, looking for successful commercial and industrial investment opportunities.”