PUTRAJAYA, Aug 9 — The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry (Kuskop), in collaboration with the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA), launched an international trade mission to China starting yesterday until tomorrow.
The mission is in conjunction with the China Franchise Expo 2025 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).
It said the Malaysian delegation is led by Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, along with representatives from Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (Pernas), MFA, and nine leading Malaysian franchise brands.
They include Marrybrown, HOME Maths Therapy, Q-Dees, Smart Reader Kids, Midyson, US Pizza, Kenny Rogers Roasters, D’Sara Fried Chicken, and Happy Potato.
“This initiative aims to open new access for local franchise brands to penetrate international markets, especially China, which is one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world,” Kuskop said in a statement today.
The participation is part of the Enhancing Franchise Development Programme (EFDP), designed to expand the presence of Malaysian franchises globally.
"Previous successes through EFDP include Marrybrown in Australia, Global Art in Morocco, Laundrybar in Thailand, and Little Caliphs in the United Kingdom," it said.
In the same statement, Ramanan said that the Malaysian franchise industry has great potential to grow in the international arena.
He believes that the mission will not only strengthen the position of local brands abroad but also create opportunities for strategic collaboration with international business partners.
“Kuskop is committed to making Malaysian franchise brands the top choice in the global market,” Ramanan said.
Kuskop noted that the trade mission to China is the first mission in the EFDP calendar for this year.
“It will be followed by regional missions to Japan, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia, which are scheduled to last until October 2025,” it said.
During the visit to China, the Malaysian delegation also held a roundtable discussion session with the China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA) to explore bilateral cooperation opportunities and to better understand the needs of the local franchise market.
"The active and strategic participation of Malaysian franchise companies in this mission clearly reflects the level of readiness and high confidence of industry players to compete on the international stage.
"This effort is also in line with the government's aspiration to make Malaysia a major franchise hub in the Asean region," Kuskop said.
