Alexandre Rocha*
São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce promotes next Tuesday (08) yet another seminar on opening franchises in the Arab world. This time the lecturer will be Arvind Chaddha, entrepreneurial consultant in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. He will speak more specifically about the franchising market for brands in the fashion sector in the countries of the Gulf. The event is organised in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) and the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF).
"The idea is to give subsidies to companies interested in this kind of business. He will talk about all kinds of concerns a company should have when opening a franchise in the region, like market behaviour, legislation, bureaucratic issues, etc.," said the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Antonio Sarkis Jr. The themes Chaddha will approach are: a general panorama of retail and the fashion sector in the Gulf, how to do business in the region, the characteristics of franchises over there, tax rules, amongst other things.
At the end of June, the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Apex and the ABF promoted another meeting of the sort, but with Brazilian specialists in the sector. The seminars are part of a project developed by the three entities that have the aim of encouraging the opening of franchises of Brazilian brands in the Arab countries, especially in the segments related to fashion. So much that the event also has the support of the Brazilian Association of Shoe Manufacturers (Abicalçados), the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit), the Brazilian Institute of Gems and Precious Metals (IBGM), the Brazilian Association of Toiletries, Perfumes & Cosmetics Industries (Abihpec) and the Brazilian Association of Stylists (Abest).
And the programme will have continuity. In the first quarter of 2007, there will be a mission from these segments to the region made up by companies interested in franchising their brands. As well as explaining how the system works over there, Chaddha will tell success stories, like that of the British chain of department stores Marks & Spencer and the clothes brand Giordano, of Hong Kong.
Career
Chaddha, 56 years old, is Indian, but works as a consultant in Dubai. Up to 2002 he worked as a financial director at Al Futtaim Sons Co., a large entrepreneurial group in the United Arab Emirates that has franchises of Marks & Spencer, the North American chain of toy stores Toys R Us, the car rental company Hertz and Alcatel, the French telecommunications company.
Graduate in trade and accounting, Chaddha also worked at Britannia Industries Limited, the Indian subsidiary of multinational foodstuff company Nabisco, where he was the senior vice-president for Finances, Diversification and Exports.
The seminar will take place in the Arab Brazilian Chamber auditorium starting at 9:00 am. Registration is free and may be done through the marketing department at the ABF.
Service
Seminar about franchises in the Arabian Gulf
When: Tuesday (08) from 09:00 am to 05:30pm
Where: Arab Chamber Space, Av. Paulista, 326, 11th floor, São Paulo, SP
Registration
ABF
Marketing department
Tel: (+55 11) 3814-4200, extension 24, with Renata Fontenele
Fax: (+55 11) 3817-5986
E-mail: renata@abf.com.br
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
