Iteca, a well-known exhibition company, jointly with the Franchising Union of Kazakhstan will arrange a franchising exhibition FranchExpo Central Asia 2012 in Astana in the short run.  The event will be held in an exhibition and conference format on 18-20 April 2012 in Korme Exhibition Complex.  The organisers invite franchisers to take part!

To date, US and Greek national groups have confirmed their participation.

A distinctive aspect and advantage of FranchExpo Central Asia 2012 will be the fact that the franchising exhibition is going to be held on the same venue with developed expo brands, such as HOREX, InterFood Astana and CleanExpo Central Asia.  The previous years’ statistics show that the above exhibitions are attended by 3,500 professional visitors, 40% of which are owners or operators of restaurants, cafés, coffee houses, laundries, cleaning companies, confectioner’s shops, etc.

The conference sessions have been identified already as follows: Franchising in Public Catering (one of the speeches will be US Experience); Franchising in Tourism Sector (one of the speeches will be Russia Experience); Franchising in Beauty Industry; Specifics of Franchising in Retail; Franchising in Healthcare.  Speakers include Askar Yesimov, Deputy Chairperson of Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC; Vyacheslav Sidelnikov, Chairperson of the Franchising Union; Beknur Kisikov, an author of the book Franchising In Kazakhstan, and others.

A ceremony of granting awards to the winners of the Time of Franchising Contest will take place.  On Day Two, seminars will be held as follows: Acquisition of a Franchise – Excluding Mistakes and Building a Franchising System – Ahead of Competitors.

“Great opportunities for the development of franchising have opened within the framework of the Customs Union.  Thus, the utmost activity of Russian and Ukrainian companies in the Kazakhstan market is presently reported.  At the same time, a number of European and US companies are planning to enter the Kazakhstan market with their brands in the short run.  Also, work has been carried on to improve the current legislation governing franchising to comply with the best international practices.  Negotiations with second tier banks have been held for the introduction of lending programmes to start business on the terms of a franchise acquisition,” notes Lyazzat Ibragimova, Chairperson of the Management Board of Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC.

According to Russian experts, the number of small enterprises gaining income from others’ success has risen by 98% over the recent three years.  Lots of people wish to open their own business, though a small one.  One of the safe (in terms of brand development) ways to work is to have a large business as a partner or to acquire a franchise.  Statistically, 85% of ordinary small enterprises are closed down during the first five years of work, while among those working under a reputable enterprise’s brand, only 14% fail.  A ‘plus’ factor is that if acquiring a franchise an entrepreneur starts working under a developed brand at once, and any further principal’s advertising will work to their benefit.

In her address to the exhibitors, Ms Ibragimova also emphasised: “Of late years, entrepreneurs’ interest in franchising has considerably grown, as it is one of successful methods of organising business.  The 5th Central Asian International Exhibition FranchExpo Central Asia 2012 to be held in Astana will help the region’s interested entrepreneurs in identifying their niche, and will become a further step in the development of private entrepreneurship in Central Asia.”