Singapore, 17 October 2017 - Franchising & Licensing Asia (FLAsia), plays a key role in promoting entrepreneurship, creating business opportunities and protecting intellectual property rights in Asia. This annual event has grown to be the world's most international franchise event of its kind attracting well-established and innovative businesses and brands, both local and foreign.

Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education, opened the three-day event which took place from 12 till 14 October at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Singapore is a base to access regional opportunities, presenting at total of 186 brands from 22 countries and regions this year. In Ms Low's opening address, she remarked on the strong international representation that 'exemplifies Singapore's attractiveness in providing proximity and access to the region for international brands, foreign franchisors and investors with interests in Asia.' She added that 'foreign franchisors can also test their concepts in Singapore to increase awareness of their unique and innovative business ideas before expanding to the rest of Asia.'

Irvin's, first-time exhibitor at FLAsia commented that they received lots of enquiries not only from South-East Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia which are their target markets, but also from North Asia and even Europe. FLAsia is their first franchise-oriented exhibition.

Another Singaporean brand, Lao Huo Tang was pleased to participate and remarked that FLAsia was 'good and very fruitful for the past 3 days'. James Cheong, Director of the Lao Huo Tang Group said that they met with investors from all over the world and one particular investor expressed keen interest in bringing the brand to Myanmar.

Foreign participants at FLAsia 2017 echoed similar sentiments on the good regional attendee turnout. Russo's Restaurants International remarked that they have connected with a good number of leads through FLAsia. Joe Hroch, Vice President of Russo's, said: 'In Dubai, we have participated in the food exhibition rather than the franchise one because we felt that it is not as large and international as the one here.'

TOPGUN, the largest network of barbershops in Russia met with potential investors from the Asia region such as, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Singapore who have shown interest in their products and brand. They added that they are very close to sealing the deal with investors from Hong Kong and Singapore.

Presented by Franchising and Licensing Association (FLA) Singapore and organised by BizLink Exhibition Services Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the three-day event will return next year, 18 - 20 October 2018 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Also anticipate the launch of the inaugural International Franchise & Business Opportunities (IFBO) Myanmar in Sedona Hotel, Yangon taking place from 8 - 10 November 2018.

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7b6fp2yll1qqet3/AADbnOhusWeiIeThYc7jy77-a?dl=0

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

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For more information, please contact:

Melissa Teo (Ms)

Marketing & Communications Manager

BizLink Exhibition Services Pte Ltd

DID: 6848 5936

Email: melissa@bizlink.com.sg

Germain Chong (Ms)

Marketing Executive

BizLink Exhibition Services Pte Ltd

DID: 6848 5257

Email: germain@bizlink.com.sg

Deror Wong (Mr)

Assistant Manager

Corporate Communications & CSR

Singapore Press Holdings Limited

DID: 6319 1226

Email: derorw@sph.com.sg

About BizLink Exhibition Services Pte Ltd

BizLink Exhibition Services Pte Ltd is Singapore's leading exhibition organiser in the fields of gifts and premiums, stationery and office solutions, printing, packaging and signage, and also in the sector of franchising and licensing.

By enhancing our exhibition and event management expertise with alliances and other capabilities, we help move clients forward to achieve their business aims. With a dynamic team having over 30 years of collective relevant experience, deep industry and business expertise, broad media resources and a proven track record, BizLink Exhibition Services is fully committed to providing utmost quality services, delivering exceptional results.

About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia's leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms, ranging from print, digital, radio and out-of-home media.

SPH owns award-winning newspapers, magazines and best-selling books in both print and digital editions, as well as online classifieds businesses in the region. In addition, SPH has two English radio stations and one Chinese radio station, an out-of-home digital advertising unit, a regional events and conferences arm, and runs a chain of modern retail convenience stores.

SPH REIT comprises Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property in Orchard Road and The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall. SPH's latest retail development is The Seletar Mall located in Sengkang.

SPH is in the healthcare sector, operating private nursing homes under Orange Valley.

For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg

SPH - Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. published this content on 17 October 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 17 October 2017 01:29:03 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.sph.com.sg/media_releases/3330

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